[1] German zoologist professor Curt Kosswig (1903–1982) and his biologist spouse Leonore (1904–1973), working at Istanbul University's Faculty of Science, visited the region in 1939.

On 31 August 1959, the Cabinet of Turkey declared an area of 52 ha (130 acres) as national park.

On 20 June 1975, the Government expropriated an area of 12.1 ha (30 acres) to be included in the national park.

[1] In 1976, he Council of Europe awarded a Class A European certificate for the successful conservation practice within the definition of the national park.

[2] Some bird species breeding in the national park are great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), great egret (Casmerodius albus), Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), gadwall (Anas strepera), Eurasian teal (Anas crecca), red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus), common greenshank (Tringa nebularia), back-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), common pochard (^Aythya ferina), ferruginous duck ([[ Aythya nyroca]]), Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), water rail (Rallus aquaticus), common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), spur-winged lapwing (Vanellus spinosus), common redshank (Tringa totanus), northern pintail (Anas acuta), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus), black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus), little gull (Larus minutus), great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), white wagtail (Motacilla alba), Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola).