Natural Heritage

EXTRAORDINARY BIODIVERSITY

Zonguldak Nature and Wildlife

Zonguldak province is a province located in the Western Black Sea Region and by the sea. Due to its location, it has forests mostly consisting of mixed deciduous trees, depending on the typical characteristics of the region. Surroundings of settlements include agricultural areas and forest areas opened by human influence. The seaside contains plenty of rocky areas next to the beaches. Fresh water resources such as the Filyos river passing through the province, Ulutan and Güluç Dam lakes, and many large and small streams also form wetlands.

The biological diversity of the province is also determined by these factors. According to the studies carried out throughout the province so far, about 80 lichen species, 20 Liverwort, 90 Moss species, 500 plant species, 90 mushroom species, 130 butterfly species, 50 freshwater fish species, 150 sea fish species. It is home to 7 amphibian species, 25 reptile species, 308 bird species and 60 mammal species.

It would not make much sense to give the number of species alone as numbers. In this respect, it is useful to emphasize some special points of this Biodiversity. Although the Zonguldak region has a typical deciduous mixed forest structure that can be seen in many regions of the Black Sea Region, especially the highlands of the Alaplı district contain the oldest mixed deciduous forest in Turkey and the old yew trees in Turkey's best condition. Since this old forest habitat has existed in its natural state for thousands of years and is a region where human pressure is relatively low, many typical forest species such as Red deer, Bear, Wolf, Roe deer, Badger, Wood marten, Squirrel, Dormouse, tree bats, Black woodpecker are healthy species. It offers a living environment in which it is located. This old and natural forest habitat in the Alaplı highlands offers perhaps the best example of its kind in Turkey and Europe. The region offers unique opportunities for hiking in a calm forest, camping, observing the forest ecosystem, and observing the extraordinary harmony in a forest area that has reached equilibrium. The region generously exhibits all seasons with its high altitude, offering unique landscapes where you can experience the snow landscapes in winter, the most beautiful colors of autumn, all the enthusiasm of spring, and the coolness of the plateau in the heat of summer.

The province is one of the richest provinces in Turkey with 308 bird species it hosts in terms of bird species. A total of 486 bird species have been recorded from Turkey, and the number of provinces with more than 300 recorded bird species does not exceed the fingers of both hands. The first photographs of the black duck, desert warbler and hawk from Turkey were taken in Zonguldak. After 2016, the only Pied Chinese record from Turkey came from Zonguldak in January 2020. In addition to the determination of a very high number of bird species, such as 308 in total, the presence of very rare species increases the importance of the province in terms of birds. Another importance of the province in terms of birds is that the region has been defined as an Important Nature Area (OBK007 Kozlu Coasts KBA) due to the breeding areas of about 60 cormorant pairs located on the steep rocky slopes at the seaside between Zonguldak city center and Kdz Ereğli. An area where crested cormorants breed is the steep cliffs on the sea-facing part of the lighthouse in the city centre.

Finding suitable areas by the sea to watch this area from a distance of 40-50 m offers bird watchers a unique viewing pleasure. It is possible to watch the cormorants coming from the sea towards the rocks and slow down in the air and land on the rocks without hitting the rocks, as well as to take very aesthetic flight and landing photos under very suitable light conditions. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the place where the most beautiful flying and landing images of the species in Turkey can be taken. You will also admire how these birds skillfully land on the 5-10 cm rock ledges on the steep slopes and how they try to dry them by opening their wings to the sun on the face of the steep rock. You will be able to observe how individuals compete with each other for a limited number of roosts, and how couples build nests in a few perches on the rock. In fact, you will see that an insatiable documentary is unfolding before your eyes.
Since there are many different habitat types such as sea, coast, forest, open space, lake, river, stream, pond, rocky areas and hills in the province, it will be possible to see different species in each different habitat type. If you are lucky, you may come across an otter in the Filyos river, streams and some seaside areas.

If the Mediterranean monk seal finds a chance to expand its habitat in the Aegean, Mediterranean and Marmara Seas and spread to the Black Sea, where it used to live, it will be able to settle in the seal caves it used to use in the past on the coast of Zonguldak.

It is possible to observe and photograph about 130 Butterfly species in the Zonguldak region between April and August in many areas such as clearings in the forest, clearings on the sides of village roads, and forest edges. One of the most attractive of these species is the Peacock butterfly, which is considered one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world by many butterfly watchers around the world. It is also possible to see species such as Caucasian festoon and Black ghost, which are quite rare.

It is possible to see many plant species with beautiful flowers such as orchids, snowdrops, crocuses, which are the favorite groups of plant watchers and photographers, throughout Zonguldak in suitable seasons.

In short, the province of Zonguldak presents the diversity of the Wildlife of the Barı Black Sea Region, which it represents, in its richest form and with all its richness. We have to recognize, promote, love, protect and pass on to our future generations in a better condition.