Medicinal Leech Research Center, established in September 2015 under the Fisheries Research Institute of Eğirdir (Turkey), affiliated to Republic of Turkey Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock , in order to conduct scientific research on medicinal leech species and to establish leech production protocols, continues to achieve success. Year-round production process of the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana was achieved in 2016. Approximately 3,200 leeches reaching an average of 0.4 gram, were released to nature in Gelendost wetlands around Lake Eğirdir on 15 March 2017.
Considering that a mature leech can give about 40 hatchlings during the breeding season, it is expected that released leeches will make a significant contribution to the medicinal leech populations.
