Hunted for its nonexistent value: 100,000 lira fine imposed
A 7th-grade student in Bingöl, Selman Karatoprak, had an exciting encounter during his holiday in Ağaçeli village with his family. While playing outside, he stumbled upon a rhinoceros beetle, a fascinating insect known for its incredible strength. Karatoprak, intrigued by this new discovery, attempted to feed the beetle with various foods before deciding to release it back into its natural habitat.
After taking a photo of the insect, Karatoprak and his family reached out to Dr. Mustafa İlçin, the Head of Bingöl University Faculty of Agriculture Plant Protection Department, to learn more about this unique creature. Dr. İlçin explained that the rhinoceros beetle is a species with a remarkable ability to carry loads many times its own weight. He highlighted the strength of the insect, noting that males have horn-like structures while females do not. The rhinoceros beetle, typically between 20-60 millimeters long, possesses a wing structure known as elytra, contributing to its robust nature.
Despite being a valuable insect in some countries for economic purposes, the rhinoceros beetle holds no financial value in Turkey. However, due to poaching activities driven by the misconception of its worth, the population of these beetles has significantly declined. Dr. İlçin emphasized the importance of preserving these creatures to maintain biodiversity and protect nature. He warned against the illegal collection of rhinoceros beetles and highlighted the potential administrative fines of up to 100 thousand liras for such actions.
With the decrease in their numbers posing a threat to biological diversity, it is essential to raise awareness about the significance of conserving these fascinating insects. Selman Karatoprak’s encounter with the rhinoceros beetle serves as a reminder of the marvels of nature and the importance of respecting and protecting all living beings around us.
