Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality has begun work to open a new natural living area on a 19.5-hectare (48-acre) site, with capacity to accommodate around 15,000 animals.
Following consultations on protocols to be signed with rural and central district municipalities regarding animal shelters and natural living areas, coordinated by the Department of Health Affairs, the process was accelerated. As part of this work, assessments were made to rapidly implement personnel recruitment and vehicle procurement for the natural living area and shelters. After official correspondence with the Diyarbakır Governorship, a 19.5-hectare (48-acre) site in Yaytaş neighbourhood, Yenişehir district, was designated as the natural living area, and work has now begun.
‘A 19.5-hectare site will accommodate up to 15,000 animals’
In a statement, Vahap Saçaklı—Head of the Department of Health Affairs and Acting Head of the Department of Veterinary Affairs—said the current Animal Care and Rehabilitation Centre has reached full capacity, and that a new 19.5-hectare (48-acre) site has been allocated. He shared the following details:
“Across Diyarbakır province, the Metropolitan Municipality previously had only one animal shelter, on a 1.7-hectare (4.2-acre) site. Its capacity is limited to 500 animals. At present there are around 900 animals on site, which is causing serious difficulties. As a result of our correspondence with the Governorship, a 19.5-hectare (48-acre) site has been allocated to us. We have prepared our project on the basis of one animal per 10 square metres. On this basis, we anticipate having the capacity to accommodate between around 14,000 and 15,000 dogs here.”
‘District municipalities must also establish shelters’
Saçaklı recalled that the city currently has only one animal shelter run by the Metropolitan Municipality, and noted that under the new law all districts with a population of over 25,000 are required to establish shelters.
Saçaklı said: “Our central districts will be able to carry out spaying and neutering on animals within their own facilities and then bring them to our natural living area. The same applies to the other districts. If districts have their own shelters, they will be able to accommodate animals there—or, where they do not, they will be able to bring them to the Metropolitan Municipality’s natural living area.”
‘We want to prepare this natural living area as soon as possible’
Saçaklı said that meetings held with district municipalities produced a shared view that existing shelters are insufficient and that the need for new shelters is urgent. He added: “At present, the Metropolitan Municipality is coordinating with all districts. To ensure our work here is completed as quickly as possible, we are moving swiftly with our Department of Public Works and want to have this natural living area ready without delay.”
Providing details on the physical layout of the new facility, Saçaklı concluded: “There will be shaded areas for the animals, paddocks where they can stay, and points where they can drink water. The site will also be enclosed with wire fencing. As soon as this is operational, we will transfer the animals currently at the Animal Care and Rehabilitation Centre—most of which we have already spayed and neutered—into this area.”
