The growing influx of tourists to the Nemrut Caldera, located 2,948 meters above sea level in Bitlis, Türkiye, is threatening both wildlife and visitor safety. The caldera, home to the world’s second-largest crater lake, has recently drawn increased attention due to its population of brown bears. While these bears initially attracted tourists with their charming appearance, their increasingly aggressive behavior is raising concerns.
Visitors, eager to take photos and feed the bears, are disrupting the natural ecosystem and putting themselves in danger. Emergency and Disaster Management Specialist Hakan Okay warned that this interaction is harmful, as it alters the bears’ natural feeding habits and increases the frequency of bear attacks. The caldera’s delicate balance is being disturbed, with bears becoming reliant on human food, posing long-term risks for both wildlife and humans.
Recep Gökhan Kılıç