Wildlife at Atılım

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

The Directorate of Landscaping of Atılım University executes projects that bring color and value to our university through landscape designs developed after structural landscaping efforts and master plan revisions.

In recent years, especially within the campus, lavender plantations have been carried out, and these lavenders have attracted many living beings, in addition to the aesthetic value they have brought to the campus.

The Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly, a species rarely seen in Türkiye, and previously photographed in Sivas and Adıyaman, was photographed this year on the lavender plants in the backyard of our administrative building.

We invite our Photography Club and anyone interested to see the garden behind the administrative building, and seize the opportunity to capture beautiful snapshots.

Koi Carp

The koi fish found in Atılım Pond belongs to the Cyprinidae family and is a type of carp raised as an ornamental fish due to its aesthetic appearance. It originates from Japan and China, and is also known as the “colored carp.”

In Japanese culture, the koi is considered a symbol of prosperity, success, love, longevity, and good luck. The golden koi represents wealth, the black koi success in career, and the white koi peace. In Chinese mythology, the koi symbolizes elevation, perseverance, and determination.

Red-Eared Slider Turtle

The Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a freshwater turtle subspecies belonging to the Emydidae family.

Also known as the “Red-Eared Slider Turtle” or the “Singapore Turtle,” the red-eared slider turtle originates from the Americas. It is amphibious, meaning it lives both in water and on land. It is known for its visually striking colors, and calm nature. With its adaptable nature, it survives in various climates and environments.

Chukar Partridge

The Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) is a bird species belonging to the pheasant family and naturally inhabits many regions of Türkiye. It takes its Turkish name (“kınalı keklik”) from the reddish hue on its legs. This medium-sized bird is easily recognized by its grey-brown feathers and the black-and-white stripes on its sides. It is commonly found in Central Anatolia, Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, and the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean. It lives in rocky and arid slopes and steppes. It feeds on seeds, plants, and small insects. It breeds in spring and lays 10 to 15 eggs at a time. The chukar partridges we sometimes see the Atılım University campus are of a native and distinctive bird species

Red Fox

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) sighted at our campus is the most common fox species in the world, and one of the most commonly-encountered wild animals in Türkiye. It is a medium-sized, slender mammal. Its fur is generally reddish-brown, and its tail is long with a white tip. It lives in forests, open fields, steppes, and even rural settlement areas. It is nocturnal; it feeds on rodents, birds, fruits, and insects. Intelligent and adaptable, the red fox can survive in a wide variety of environments with these traits. It is a natural part of wildlife across nearly every region of Türkiye.