Overview

Straddling two continents, the pearl of the Bosphorus is home to little-known wildlife. Despite pollution and the presence of countless boats on the river, various species of dolphins live in the strait. Wild boars swimming away from the rapid urbanization are sometimes spotted there. Every year, tens of thousands of migratory birds such as storks, buzzards, and short-toed eagles also fly over Istanbul. On the outskirts of the city, a new animal species, a cross between a wolf and a stray dog, is spreading.