Investigation of the opportunities for introduction of the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) in the territory of Bulgaria

Radoslav Mihaylov, Fejzullah Fejzulla, Rosen Dimitrov, Kamelia Stamatova-Yovcheva

Abstract: In Biology the introduction is the establishment of outlandish species within the borders outside their natural range (natural habitats) under conditions in which they have not previously developed. The aim was to investigate the possibilities of introduction of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) in the territory of Bulgaria and the changes to which they might have led to the morphological features of this species. The study was carried out in the territory of Trankovo village, Stara Zagora region (the pheasantry is a part of Mazalat), the territory of Stara Zagora Zoo and in a licensed game farm Graus. The used methods are: • interviews with poultry specialists; • photographic method – photo-documentation of areas, inhabited by wild turkeys and photo-documentation of morphological features of live wild turkeys; • biometric morphological method. In Bulgaria there are real opportunities for introduction of wild turkey due to the presence of objects with parental herds – the pheasantry in the village of Trankovo and the Zoo in Stara Zagora. The program for the production and displacement of birds bred in farms does not work with wild turkey, although it has been included in the program from 2006. Hunting farms prefer to buy wild turkeys ready for shooting from the pheasantry in Trankovo rather than rear them in the hunting area. When trying to introduce a group of wild turkeys, it should be composed of young and adult birds as well. The birds that are displaced should be at a distance from the rest that they cannot hear the birds from the parent flock. In order for a higher percentage of birds to survive, strict control must be carried out over the harmful predators – foxes, jackals and martens.

Keywords: introduction; morphology; wild turkey

Date published: 2019-08-27