With the tourist season now well underway along Turkey’s Aegean coast, orphaned monk seal pup Badem continues to make friends – but also enemies [see Ambassador with Attitude, TMG 11(1): June 2008].
Three armed gendarme officers have now been assigned to watch over the seal, following threats by a speargun diver that he would harpoon the animal. It is believed that threats by others may also have prompted that official action, as well as appeals by SAD-AFAG, the organisation monitoring Badem’s welfare.
At the same time, concerns over the safety of bathers have prompted demands by local officials that Badem be recaptured and taken to an area less frequented by tourists and bathers. Seal carers have already intervened on a number of occasions to remove Badem from interactions with curious onlookers and tourists.
The most recent translocation appears to have taken place on or around 6 June, with Badem being returned to the quieter area of Karacasöğüt, where she previously spent time in February at the Karaca fish farm [see Badem wanders freely in Gökova Bay, TMG 11(1): June 2008].
While some beach-goers have ignored warnings not to interact with Badem, innocent swimmers have also sustained bites and scratches when encountering the playful seal in the sea. Of the injuries reported, several have been described as “serious”; an apparent near-drowning involving a 65-year old man has also been reported.
Below, we continue with another selection of recent press and media coverage of Turkey’s famous seal.