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This month, I have some very important news for you. On April 22, 2004, my SAD-AFAG friends in Foça received a phone call. A disabled seal had been found on the Candarlı Gulf. It was grounded on the beach, exhausted and could barely move. My SAD-AFAG friends and the local people carried her to the shore, did their utmost to maintain her body temperature and kept a close eye on her.
The seal was examined by the SAD-AFAG Foca team, the Foça Municipality and veterinarian Avni Gök. They saw that they seal was 200 cm long, a young female, well fed and had some wounds on his eyes, nose and mouth. It had oil on its skin and tar was found on its body that had caused damage to its soft tissues such as its mouth, nose and eyes. Its digestive system was probably affected as well.
Having rested on the shore and recovered some energy, the seal wanted to return to the ocean. Following the advice of expert veterinarians from Holland and Greece, the seal was given antibiotics and an eye cream. After she was treated, my friend returned to the ocean.
On April 23, the team were back in the area but they aw no sign of the seal. They think that she may have died or have recovered and gone to a different region. If you see a dead or ill seal on the shores of the Çandarlı Gulf, please call the SAD-AFAG FoCa team to alert them as they either need to do an autopsy or continue her treatment.
Sleepyhead
