PRELIMINARY STUDY ON A STRANDING CASE OF MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL MONACHUS MONACHUS (HERMANN, 1779) ON THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF TURKEY
12/12/2018Preliminary study on a stranding case of Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) on the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey
Erdem Danyer, Işıl Aytemiz, Ali Cemal Gücü, Arda M. Tonay
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, 34320, Avcilar, Istanbul, TURKEY
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, TURKEY
Middle East Technical University Institute of Marine Sciences, P.O.Box 28, Erdemli, Mersin, TURKEY
Faculty of Fisheries, Istanbul University, Ordu St., No. 200, 34470, Laleli, Istanbul, TURKEY
Abstract
The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) is one of the critically endangered species in the world and in the northeast Mediterranean Sea there is a continuously breeding population. On 28 February 2014, 3-3.5 months old, male Mediterranean monk seal stranded near Yasilovacık Harbour, Mersin. Gross necropsy was carried out one day later. The seal was emaciated and lungs were pneumonic. This paper summarizes the preliminary findings of the gross necropsy.
Keywords: Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, Eastern Mediterranean Sea, deliberate killing, emaciation
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