Voices Newspaper Altinkum Didim Turkey

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

Badem, one of the last 100 of the endangered species of Mediterranean Monk Seals, was released into sea following his treatment and regularly returns to Bodrum’s Akyaka coast after spending the winter in open seas.

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

Last week Badem bit six university students who were trying to pull him by the tail to the shore and also 65-years-old German tourist Hans Gutshce. The German had five stitches in his legs.

When Badem bit three more people, who attempted to stroke him, the Underwater Mediterranean Monk Seal Research Group took action to protect Badem and prevent him from hurting others.

The group is sending a team to protect the seal during summer. The team will protect Badem, which can be tracked 24 hours by the chip in his tail, from the unwanted behaviours of people if he comes close to the shore.

The Research Group will also ask for safety measures from the Gendarme Headquarters and Ministry of Environment and Forestry for people not to play with Badem at the shores he visits.

Member of Mediterranean Monk Seal Research Group, Zafer Kızılkaya expressed that great responsibility fell on people to help Badem return to wild life.

He said: “Those who swim and play with Badem, from time to time make him feel ill at ease despite of all our warnings. This causes him to get aggressive and bite people around him.

“People should not forget that Badem is one of the last 100 of the endangered species of Mediterranean Monk Seals left on the coast of Turkey.”