Tuesday December 5th, a young monk seal washed ashore without its mother at Didem, on the west coast of Turkey. The young animal was hungry. Luckily it was not sick or wounded. Monk seals are the rarest seal species in the world. Unfortunately they are nearly extinct.
Mediterranean monk seals live in caves along the Mediterranean coast. The SRRC has carried out rescue operations in many countries (such as Greece, Turkey, Marocco, Mauritania (NW Africa) and Madeira), in order to rescue wounded and young monk seals.
The young monk seal in question was transported to Foca in Izmir by SAD-AFAG workers. The SRRC has worked with the SAD-AFAG, a Turkish organisation, before. Many of its workers received training to work with seals, here at the SRRC. On Wednesday December 6th, seal carer Richard Dijkema arrived at Foca to organise the seal’s treatment and to help with its rehabilitation. Monk seals are difficult animals to rehabilitate, because they are dependent on their mother for a much longer period than other seal species, and they are prone to getting stomach and intestine problems. One of the mobile quarantine units (a container transformed into a quarantine space), is being prepared for a possible journey to Turkey. If necessary, this fully equipped quarantine unit, with a plateau for the seal to lie on, a pool, electricity and water supplies, will serve as a rehabilitation centre for this monk seal during the next few months.
06-12-2006 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
