The Nemrut Caldera, located within the Ahlat, Güroymak and Tatvan districts of Bitlis province in Türkiye, has been closed to visitors during the winter season due to bear attacks.
“The bears in the Nemrut Caldera are wild animals and a predatory species that continue to have wild characteristics. As a result of visitors giving food to these wild and predatory animals under the name of kindness and feeding them by hand, the bears’ feeding habits have been negatively affected and they have started to meet a large portion of their nutritional needs from visitors. Since the bears have started to have difficulties finding food due to the decrease in the number of visitors due to seasonal changes, it has been observed and reflected in media news that bears have attacked visitors in the area, harmed people and property in order to meet their nutritional needs. In order to rehabilitate the bears’ feeding habits and prevent any possible loss of life and property, the Nemrut Caldera has been closed to visitors during the winter season as a precaution and temporarily as of October 31, 2024,” the Bitlis Governorship stated.