Monk seals in Turkey, Monachus monachus
The beautiful Mediterranean monk seal is very close to extinction; it is now one of the very rarest mammals in the world. The population has declined to only 450-500 individuals in the whole of the Mediterranean Basin. Greece and Turkey share the most suitable habitat for monk seals with an estimated 70 - 100 animals on the Turkish coastline. Therefore we aim for an effective long-term conservation for seals around the Karaburun Peninsula. You can help on a variety of jobs: We monitor and study monk seals and their habitat. Additionally we carry out a local public awareness program. We train locals, as well as informing both locals (fishermen, villagers, young people, etc.) and tourists and lobbying politicians. We promote the installation and maintenance of marine conservation zones and sustainable local fisheries allowing survival of the seals. Also we monitor threats to the coastal ecosystem such as intruding tourism activities, illegal fishing and urbanization along the Karaburun coast. phocidae, pinnipeds, phocids, seals, monachus monachus, monk seal, mediterranean seal, mediterranean monk seal, marine mammal, marine conservation, coastal conservation, turkey, aegean sea, izmir, research, public awareness, tourism impact, afag, sad-izmir, nature travel, ecotourism Monk seals in Turkey
Listen to a monkseal, Monachus monachus