A taxidermied specimen of the caracal (Caracal caracal), one of the important mammal species of our country’s wildlife, has been donated to the BIOSPHERE Museum by Dr. Yasin İLEMİN, Assistant Professor and a graduate of the Department of Biology at Hacettepe University (Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Biological Diversity Application and Research Center). The specimen will be displayed in the museum’s Mammals (Mammalia) Section for scientific and educational purposes.

Within the scope of the BIOSPHERE Seminar Series, a seminar entitled “The Mysterious Cat of the Forest: Turkey’s Caracals (Caracal caracal)” will also be delivered by Dr. Yasin İLEMİN.

The caracal is one of Turkey’s most enigmatic wild cats and plays a critical role in maintaining a balanced and healthy food web within Mediterranean ecosystems. Turkey hosts a unique and largely isolated population of caracals in Southwestern Anatolia, making it specially responsible for the global future of this species.

This seminar will present the ecological functions of the caracal, recent research findings, behavioral and habitat preferences, human–wildlife interactions, and conservation priorities in light of current scientific knowledge. The threats faced by the species, methods used in conservation studies, and recommendations for future actions will also be discussed.

All academic staff and students, as well as anyone interested in wildlife conservation, are warmly invited to attend this event hosted by the BIOSPHERE Museum.

Date: December 26, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Venue: Biosphere Conference Hall