Volunteers Race to Save Injured Animals After Turkey’s Izmir Wildfires

In the wake of devastating wildfires in Izmir, western Türkiye, volunteers are stepping up to rescue the animals left behind. According to Daily Sabah, nearly 100 people responded to a social media call from the Projects for Animals Association (HIPDER) and the Afalina Animal rights Community, joining forces on July 5 to search the scorched forests of Buca.

The group, made up mostly of strangers, worked in small teams combing through fire-damaged zones where flames had recently been controlled. Their search led to the rescue of two tortoises, two sheltopusiks (legless lizards), and a striped viper. Some animals received immediate treatment from an on-site vet, while others were placed in protective care.

Funda Bonomo, founder of HIPDER, described the emotional toll of finding animals clinging to life. “If we hadn’t come today, that animal might have died tomorrow from hunger or thirst,” she said. “It breaks our hearts.” Volunteer Izgen Cebbar added that even saving one creature made the grueling effort feel worthwhile, calling it a powerful display of unity.

The tragedy goes beyond the fires. Volunteer Tolga Çevik expressed shock at the piles of trash found deep in the burned forest—plastic bottles, discarded furniture, even a toilet. “The forest is already ashes. But why is there so much garbage here?” he asked. “We’re actively creating the conditions for these disasters.”

So far this year, Türkiye has seen over 3,000 fires—1,305 of them in forested areas—with 624 reported in just the past week. It’s a sobering reminder of how human carelessness, climate breakdown, and overconsumption feed into environmental catastrophe.

Let this be a wake-up call. Whether you live in the U.S. or Türkiye, your actions ripple outward. Stop littering. Demand fire-safe policies. And if you eat animals, know that factory farming is one of the biggest drivers of the climate crisis. Go plant-based, respect wildlife, and choose to protect—not destroy—the Earth we share.

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