Author: Editor

With the 2008 tourist season on the wane and beachgoers diminishing, monk seal ‘Badem’ was released from her temporary captivity in September.

The rescued seal had been taken into protective care in early July, both for her own safety and that of bathers, with whom she was increasingly interacting [see Ambassador with attitude, TMG 11(1): June 2008; Badem under armed guard, Latest News, June 2008; and Badem in ‘protective custody’, Latest News, 2 August 2008.] Continue reading “Badem released from ‘protective custody’”

In early July, rehabilitated Mediterranean monk seal ‘Badem’ was brought into temporary captivity, both for her own safety and that of swimmers and holidaymakers, with whom she was increasingly interacting [see Badem under armed guard, Latest News, June 2008].

The move followed several injuries that the playful or deliberately provoked seal inflicted upon swimmers, death-threats issued against her, and concerns by tourist enterprises and local government that her antics might ultimately drive away tourists rather than attract them.

Continue reading “Badem in ‘protective custody’”

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.

Continue reading “Badem under armed guard”

Press Watch —  The Voices Newspaper, 9 June, 2008

DIDIM’s adopted seal Badem, which was released back into the wild last year, has hit the headlines again – for biting ten people. […]

Despite warnings from the authorities, people showed too much interest in Badem, causing him to bite back to retain his freedom.

Continue reading “Badem bites back”

Press Watch — Sun Express, 7 June 2008

The seal that bit 6 persons, one a German, on the Akyaka shore of Muğla’s city of Ula, is being monitored by the Underwater Research Association (SAD). Zafer Kızılkaya, an underwater photographer and member of SAD, who has been watching the seal named Badem, asked the public to leave the seal alone and to remember that after all, it is a wild animal.

Badem, who has made his home in the bay of Gökova, got tired of too much attention and bit and hospitalized 6 persons, one of them a German. Badem, after being treated by the Underwater Research Association in the rehabilitation center in Foça, İzmir, last year, was released in Muğla. Continue reading “The seal Badem under SAD control”