Istanbul is a city of animals. This big city is home to tons of stray dogs and cats and other animals as well. Although it's the cats and dogs that make the headlines most often, Istanbul has other animals too.
Does Istanbul have wolves? Is it dangerous? What should you do?


To answer the question regarding the presence of wolves, yes. Istanbul does indeed have wolves. Not only wolves roam the suburbs and wilderness of the big city, but also there are bears, lynx and jackals that call the city home as well.
But should you be worried?
No not really. The wild animals such as wolves usually notice you long before you notice them. They are fortunately smart enough to see us as threats and stay away. The existence and sighting of wolves in Istanbul is actually a blessing according to the experts. Wolves play an important role in keeping the balance of wild life. They also have a major impact on disease control. Luckily, there has been no report of an incident involving wolves in Istanbul. I wish the same could be said about dogs, but oh well. In any case, if you are going for a hike or walk in the suburbs of Istanbul, you still should be on the lookout. It is wise to stay away from wild animals, whether it's killer dogs, or helpful wolves.
If you want to prepare in advance, though, there is a map of dog attack zones in Istanbul that you can check out.