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\n “Yoda,” the red squirrel, on a pizza during his rehabilitation, Ankara, T\u00fcrkiye, Jan. 21, 2026. (AA Photo) <\/p>\n
Special areas were created both at home and in the clinic to simulate natural living conditions, including nests made from tree bark. Human-guided training helped him adjust to these environments. During feeding, Yoda was encouraged to exhibit natural behaviors by searching for, retrieving and storing nuts and other foods hidden throughout his space.<\/p>\n
At 4 months old, Yoda began successfully locating hidden food. Training helped him develop skills essential for survival: storing nuts, sleeping in tree hollows, protecting himself, and strengthening his instinctual reflexes. Once his treatment and adaptation are complete, Yoda is expected to return to the wild under controlled supervision.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t know how to feed himself at first,\u201d said Ya\u011fmur Denli, a veterinary technician and physiotherapist, in an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA). She explained that with proper nutrition and vitamin support, Yoda began recovering and experiencing fewer seizures.<\/p>\n
Denli noted that the squirrel could not survive in the wild until his seizures subsided. She said they are collaborating with an international organization, and once Yoda fully recovers, he will be fitted with a microchip before being released.<\/p>\n \u201cNow he eats nuts, learns to store and retrieve food, and sleeps in a tree hollow,\u201d Denli said. \u201cWhen he first arrived, he didn\u2019t know how to feed himself. He grew up with a cat and a dog in the home, so he imitated them. Normally, he should be sleeping in tree hollows, but he didn\u2019t know that. We created a nest from tree bark and a pouch for him to hide in. Because he sees me as his mother, I hide the food, and he copies me. We\u2019re gradually teaching him to keep distance from humans because he is very sociable, and he needs to be independent to survive in the wild.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n “Yoda,” the red squirrel, brought to Ankara for treatment due to health complications, is being gradually reintroduced to the wild through a specialized rehabilitation program, Ankara, T\u00fcrkiye, Jan. 21, 2026. (AA Photo) <\/p>\n