Researchers examine partridges as potential natural tick combatants utilizing sophisticated tracking methods
A unique project is underway in Turkey, aiming to control tick populations in rural areas using partridges. The collaboration between Kahramanmaraş Sütcü Iğdır University, Erciyes University, and Iğdır University has seen 200 partridges released into the wild in the southern city of Kahramanmaraş.
The project, led by academics in Turkiye, is a two-year tracking study to evaluate the role of partridges in controlling tick populations. Professor Cagri Caglar Sinmez from Erciyes University plans to release a total of 10,000 partridges over the two-year period. Each bird released is tagged with a numbered ring for monitoring purposes.
Research methods involve breeding and releasing partridges in affected areas to observe their impact on tick populations. Binoculars, camera traps, and drones are used for tracking the released partridges and studying their impact. Researchers will also collect data through field interviews with local hunters and villagers.
The data collected will help determine how well the released birds adapt to their environment. Preliminary findings indicate these birds serve as a natural, chemical-free means of managing ticks, benefiting agriculture and human health. However, specific details about the two-year tracking study, such as exact research methods, detailed findings, and how well the birds adapted, are not publicly documented.
The project's focus remains on rural areas, especially central Anatolia, where there has been a spike in tick-borne illnesses. The number of deaths from the tick-borne Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in the central city of Sivas alone has risen to 12 this year.
The goal of the project is to determine whether partridges play a meaningful role in controlling tick populations in rural areas. Preliminary findings suggest that partridges may act both as a host and a predator to ticks. If the project's findings are positive, they could potentially provide insights into natural methods for controlling tick populations and reducing tick-borne illnesses.
The project is ongoing, with the first year already underway. While specific details about the two-year tracking study are not yet available, the potential benefits of this innovative approach make it an exciting development in the fight against tick-borne diseases.
- The researchers will also gather data through interviews with local hunters and villagers, as part of the health-and-wellness related study on the impact of partridges in controlling tick populations.
- In addition to the science behind the partridge-tick control project, there is also a focus on environmental science, as the findings could potentially provide insights into natural methods for managing ticks and reducing environmental hazards like tick-borne illnesses.
