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The SAD-AFAG have always worked hand in hand with the local community to protect us seals. Volunteers have updated the AFAG with news about us seals, which has then been passed on to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Now, an official information and rescue network for Mediterranean monk seals has been established with the support of the Delegation of the European Commission Turkey to (Mikro-2 Program). As a result, residents along the Aegean between Çanakkale and Fethiye can pass on news about live, sick, wounded, dead or orphaned seals to the AFAG. The project has been named the 'Akdeniz Foku Bilgi ve Kurtarma Ağı' (AFBİKA) (Mediterranean Monk Seal Information and Rescue Network). There are also plans to extend the AFBİKA to the shores between Fethiye and Samandağ. These plans have been accepted by the Regional Environmental Center-Turkey, but have yet to be implemented.
My friends at the SAD-AFAG have been supported in these projects by the Dokuz Eylül University / Institute of Marine Studies and Technology (DEÜ/DBTE) and the Aydın Adnan Menderes University / Veterinary Faculty (AMÜ/VF). In addition, talks have begun with the Municipality of Foça and the Özel Çevre Koruma Kurumu Başkanlığı to set up a sorely needed rehabilitation centre. If you would like to volunteer to be part of this network, contact my friends at the SAD-AFAG.
Sleepyhead
