Turkey, flamingos dead by drought in Lake Tuz

Thousands of flamingos killed by drought in Turkey’s Lake Tuz

Thousands of flamingo calves and adult birds have been found dead in recent days in Lake Tuz, the second largest in Turkey and one of the largest hypersaline lakes in the world, due to the drought that plagues the country. Although its shallow, saline waters are one of the favourite places for flamingos to breed, the lack of rainfall has dried up many parts of the lake, causing a serious food shortage for these birds. It is estimated that each year about 10,000 flamingos are born in this lake, but this year only half have survived. “Last year you could see hundreds of flamingos here… now, there is neither water nor living birds. Lake Tuz was a paradise for flamingos, but now it is a nightmare,” says a nature photographer.