Effects of dams to bezoar ibex in Coruh Valley and Vercenik Mountain wildlife reserve area

Dams can cause the degradation, fragmentation and loss of wildlife habitats. The aim of the study is to determine the effects of dams to wildlife and especially Bezoar Ibex in Coruh Valley and Verçenik Mountains Wildlife Reserve Area. GPS collar, camera traps, field observations and inventory techniques was used to figure out the effects of dams with focal species, Bezoar Ibex (Capra aegagrus). During the capture process 15 Bezoar Ibex was captured and from these 10 adult individuals with GPS collar and 5 fawns released with marked number. It was showed that the cliffs of the Coruh Valley were critical habitat for Bezoar Ibex to feeding and mating. The home range size was estimated as 30 km2 for male and 10 km2 for female and yearlings of Bezoar Ibex. The optimum carrying capacity of Bezoar Ibex as 3000 individuals for Coruh Valley and 2000 individuals for Verçenik Mountains Wildlife Reserve Area. The population viability analyses were showed that Bezoar Ibex populations can be viable with high probability (%80-90) in case the habitat use as much as actual size. Arkun Dams caused to lost 730 ha priority habitats for Bezoar Ibex with Habitat Suitability Model in Verçenik Mountain Area. It was estimated that Yusufeli Dams can leads to 3670 ha habitats to impoundment. As decreasing the effects of dams to wildlife, the projects work and environment effects report must be firmly application. The poaching and illegal hunting activities must be prevented for focal species and game species in the region.