Turkey, a natural land bridge connecting Europe and Asia, was historically home to a myriad of mammalian species, including a full complement of carnivores such as the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata), gray wolf (Canis lupus), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), brown bear (Ursus arctos), Anatolian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), caracal (Felis caracal), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), golden jackal (Canis aureus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), European wildcat (Felis silvestris caucasica), pine marten (Martes martes), and other smaller mustelid species.
Several other smaller species, including the Anatolian leopard, striped hyena, caracal, Eurasian lynx and Eurasian otter have been nearly extirpated or are rare across the region (BPPC and EEII 2002).
Christopher Ellam, 40, is said to have had buzzards, sparrowhawks, owls and eight
Eurasian otters which it is claimed he planned to sell.