Anatolian leopard: The return of a legend
Türkiye’s largest wild cat, the Anatolian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana), is a natural treasure long believed to exist only in legend. Once ruling the high mountains and forests of Anatolia, the species was thought to have vanished after the 1970s. Yet from 2019 onward, camera traps installed across various regions confirmed that the Anatolian leopard is still alive. Monitoring efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry recorded signs of the leopard across a wide area stretching from Bitlis to Siirt and from Diyarbakır to Şırnak and Artvin.
These discoveries have turned the Anatolian leopard into a legend reborn from its ashes. With its spotted coat and powerful build, the leopard has inspired admiration and respect across Anatolia, past and present. Since antiquity, it has appeared in cultural representations ranging from rock art to sculpture. At Çatalhöyük, for instance, a Neolithic mother goddess figurine flanked by leopard-headed arms shows that humanity’s fascination with this predator dates back thousands of years. An even older example comes from Karahantepe. Among the sculptures uncovered at this site, which shed light on the earliest chapters of human history, are numerous leopard-head figurines and a human figure carrying a leopard on its back. From the Ottoman era to the present, the word “pars” has symbolized courage and agility, a meaning that endures in popular culture. TÜBİTAK’s domestic operating system, Pardus, is named after the Anatolian leopard. These cultural ties underscore the leopard’s enduring place in Türkiye’s natural heritage.
Anatolian lynx: The cats of the forest
As you move through Anatolia’s dense forests and rugged, rocky terrain, you may find yourself watched by the sharp gaze of a lynx (Lynx lynx). Easily recognized by the black, tuft-like hairs at the tips of its ears and its short tail, the lynx is a distinctive wild cat rarely seen. Also known as the Eurasian lynx, this species is found in Türkiye primarily in the forests of Northern Anatolia, the Western Black Sea region, and around the Taurus Mountains. Observations also reveal its presence across diverse landscapes stretching from Antalya to Samsun.
Because lynxes are usually active at dusk or at night, encountering them in their natural habitat is far from easy. Preferring to roam alone, these cats live up to their nickname as the ghosts of the forest, keeping well away from humans. Even a fleeting appearance on a camera trap is rare enough to make national news. Physically, the lynx cuts an imposing figure, with a build comparable to a medium-sized dog and a thick coat that becomes especially full in winter. Its long legs and large paws allow it to move effortlessly through deep snow. Keen eyesight and silent steps make it a true master of stealth. Its role in the natural ecosystem is also critical, as it plays a significant part in population control. For this reason, it is among the protected species. Across Türkiye’s national parks and protected areas, traces of lynxes are monitored, and their populations are carefully observed.
The leaping shadow of the steppe
The caracal (Caracal caracal) is known for its long black ear tufts and agile leaps. Named for its dark, elongated ears and lynx-like gaze, the caracal is a medium-sized wild cat. In Anatolia, it is also called the “steppe lynx” or the “desert lynx,” a quiet presence in open steppes and scrubland. With its long, slender legs, lithe body, and short tail, it moves like a shadow gliding over sand. Although caracals were once observed across many regions of Türkiye, from the Aegean to the Southeast, recent records are largely confined to the Taurus Mountains and surrounding areas. Even so, their presence can still be traced along the rugged slopes of the Mediterranean or within the shrubby steppes of Central Anatolia.
One of the most striking traits that sets the caracal apart is its agility. Thanks to hind legs that are longer and more muscular than its forelegs, this elegant animal can leap several times its own height in a single bound. Among its African relatives, it is known to catch birds in midair, a skill that fully earns it the title of “flying cat”. The caracal is a solitary species, deeply attached to a defined territory. Once it establishes its range, it rarely abandons it, asserting its domain as if drawing invisible borders. For this reason, protecting its natural habitat is vital to the survival of the caracal population. Today, caracals are listed among sensitive species in wildlife conservation efforts, with growing awareness aimed at ensuring their continued existence in the wild. This silent shadow of the steppe slips through the night, often unnoticed.
Jungle cat: The mysterious feline of wetlands
The jungle cat (Felis chaus) is a wild cat in Türkiye that inhabits wetlands and has a strong affinity for water. In Anatolia, the jungle cat, also known as the “marsh lynx”, is perhaps one of the least-known members of the feline family. As its name suggests, it favors riverbanks and marshy habitats, making it a medium-sized wild cat closely tied to reeds and wetlands. With its long legs and slender frame, it has an elegant appearance. Its fur typically ranges from sandy gray to yellowish brown. Rather than bold patterns, a uniform color dominates, with only black rings on the tail. The black tufted hairs at the tips of its ears give it a distinctly lynx-like look, which explains why it is commonly referred to as the “marsh lynx”. At first glance, it may resemble a docile domestic cat, yet the jungle cat carries a fiercely independent, truly wild spirit.
In Türkiye, jungle cats are primarily found in wetland areas across the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Marmara regions. Locations such as the Manavgat River delta, the Göksu Delta, the surroundings of Lake Eğirdir, the reed beds of Lakes Manyas and Uluabat, and the Akyatan Lagoon near Adana have hosted jungle cats. These environments are rich in reeds, marshes, dense vegetation, and, naturally, water. Among wild felines, the jungle cat is perhaps the most closely associated with water. It can swim, catch fish, and thrives along riverbanks and in wetlands. Jungle cats tend to roam alone and are highly skilled at camouflaging themselves in dense vegetation, making them extremely difficult to observe in the wild. In the 2010s, camera-trap footage captured by a nature association team at the Yumurtalık Lagoon in Adana provided an important record confirming the species’ continued presence.
Wildcat: The wild ancestor of our domestic companions
The European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) is a close relative of domestic cats, distinguished by its powerful build. Consider the tabby cats you see on the streets; their noble ancestor, the wildcat, still roams freely across Türkiye’s forests and mountains. At first glance, it may resemble a large tabby, making it hard for an untrained eye to tell them apart. Yet its heavier body, thick tail marked with a black ring at the tip, and unmistakably wild gaze reveal its true identity as a forest cat. Around 10,000 years ago, in the Middle East, most likely in Anatolia, early farmers first domesticated these cats, laying the foundations for today’s house cats. Still, the modern wildcat shows no interest in being tamed, remaining fiercely devoted to its freedom. In Türkiye, wildcats inhabit many forested and rural areas, ranging from the woodland belt of Northern Anatolia to the scrublands of the Aegean and Mediterranean, from the heaths of Thrace to the valleys of Central Anatolia.
Wildcats primarily prey on small rodents and birds, and at times on rabbits and lizards. Although they are among the wild creatures that have lived most closely alongside humans throughout history, they are, in essence, true survivors that have held their ground in nature. In ancient times, the settlers of Anatolia both respected these cats and drew inspiration from them. The sacred status of cats in ancient Egypt is well known, and in Anatolia, symbols related to felines appear in Phrygian and Hittite remains as well. Stylized cat figures on the Hittite Sun Disc or feline-like motifs on certain ancient coins may well be traces of the wildcat in our cultural memory. Protecting the wildcat ultimately means safeguarding our cultural heritage of “love for cats” itself.
