BURSA - The owner of the "bird paradise" in north-western city of Bursa`s Karacabey town has put the paradise on sale.
The "bird paradise" has more than 1,000 birds from 50 different species.
In an exclusive interview with the AA, owner Mustafa Bilgic said that he dedicated his life to the birds, trees and plants in the paradise for the past 35 years.
"In 1972, I arrived at Uluabat Lake near Karacabey and noticed that the people living there were not much concerned about the environment and its protection. Having seen the damage caused by the residents at the Uluabat Lake, I decided to establish a `bird paradise`," told Bilgic.
Bilgic underlined that "after purchasing a land near the Uluabat Lake, I decided to create a `bird paradise`. I have sacrificed a lot to preserve the paradise. I received bad treatment from some people...my trees were cut and I got beaten at times."
"My wife and I expected to receive support by the government and people living in the region. But no one noticed or paid attention to what we established. We welcomed many people, including Polish, Dutch and French visitors at the paradise. Having not received any support from the government, I decided to sell the paradise," stressed Bilgic.
Bilgic has not announced the price he wants for his "bird paradise" yet.