Another dolphin has been shot and killed in the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul.
Another Dolphin Shot Dead in the Bosphorus
PRESS RELEASE
ANOTHER DOLPHIN SHOT DEAD IN THE ISTANBUL STRAIT
Following the discovery of a dead bottlenose dolphin washed ashore on June 4th in Tarabya, Istanbul, the Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) determined that the dolphin had been shot at close range with a shotgun. The TÜDAV team found over 100 pellets in the carcass of the adult male dolphin and filed a report to legally pursue the matter, identifying the perpetrators who killed the protected dolphin and initiating legal proceedings against them.
Every spring and early summer, more dolphins are seen in the Bosphorus than at other times of the year. Dolphins come to the Bosphorus to feed, cross to the Black Sea or the Marmara Sea, or simply to spend time. Especially this year, dolphins can be seen almost daily passing in schools along the Bosphorus during ferry trips or from restaurants and cafes on the shore. Since dolphins are an indicator of a healthy sea, this shows that the Marmara and Black Seas are still in relatively good condition. Despite this, sad news about dolphins continues to emerge.
On June 4th, an adult male bottlenose dolphin (214 cm body length), whose Black Sea population is classified as "endangered," washed ashore dead in Tarabya. The following day, a necropsy performed by TÜDAV experts in Beykoz revealed that the dolphin had been killed with a shotgun. More than 100 pellets and wads (used to propel pellets) were found in the wound on the dolphin's head. Because these fragments were found in the tissue, it is estimated that the shot was fired from a very short distance (1.5 to 2 meters). Furthermore, the healing wounds and the old pellets found in the fatty layer on its head indicated that the dolphin had been shot in the head once before but had survived to this age. During the necropsy, it was determined that, apart from the fatal wound, the bottlenose dolphin was healthy and had a normal structure, and its stomach was full. It is estimated that the dolphin, most likely shot in the Black Sea or north of the Bosphorus, was carried to Tarabya by the surface currents of the Marmara Sea.
TÜDAV, which reported the killing of the protected dolphin to the relevant authorities via the Prime Minister's Communication Center (BİMER), also requested that all fishing and port authorities check the permits for carrying hunting rifles on boats, and that the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock of the Republic of Turkey prohibit the possession of all types of rifled/unrifled, licensed/unlicensed weapons/rifles on all fishing boats and urgently add this provision to the amateur/commercial fishing regulations. TÜDAV also reiterated its demands that the relevant ministries and governorships offer a reward for information leading to the discovery of such intentional killings, and that penalties be increased to make them more deterrent.
This is not the first such case in the Bosphorus. On May 26, 2015, a dolphin found dead on Bebek beach was also determined to have been shot at least once from the side. Six pellet holes were found in its body, and one pellet was removed during the necropsy. The perpetrators have still not been caught (https://www.tudav.org/index.php/tr/balina-yunus-ve-fok-arast-rmalar/354-bogaz-da-yunus-vahseti).
Three species of dolphins live in the Black Sea: the common dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, and the striped dolphin. All marine mammal species are protected by law. However, dolphins face problems such as accidental entanglement in nets, lack of food due to overfishing, pollution, and heavy, noisy maritime traffic. Besides these problems, intentional killings are also a common occurrence.
We must stop this cruelty. Dolphins lived here, in these seas, before humans did. We need to learn to live alongside other living creatures. If you see a dead or injured dolphin, please contact TÜDAV. TÜDAV encourages support for the campaign on Change.org to ban the carrying of firearms on all fishing boats: https://www.change.org/silahsizbalikcilik.
Dolphins and TÜDAV await your support for the protection of the marine ecosystem as a whole.
PRESS RELEASE
ANOTHER DOLPHIN SHOT DEAD IN THE ISTANBUL STRAIT
Following the discovery of a dead bottlenose dolphin washed ashore on June 4th in Tarabya, Istanbul, the Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV) determined that the dolphin had been shot at close range with a shotgun. The TÜDAV team found over 100 pellets in the carcass of the adult male dolphin and filed a report to legally pursue the matter, identifying the perpetrators who killed the protected dolphin and initiating legal proceedings against them.
Every spring and early summer, more dolphins are seen in the Bosphorus than at other times of the year. Dolphins come to the Bosphorus to feed, cross to the Black Sea or the Marmara Sea, or simply to spend time. Especially this year, dolphins can be seen almost daily passing in schools along the Bosphorus during ferry trips or from restaurants and cafes on the shore. Since dolphins are an indicator of a healthy sea, this shows that the Marmara and Black Seas are still in relatively good condition. Despite this, sad news about dolphins continues to emerge.
On June 4th, an adult male bottlenose dolphin (214 cm body length), whose Black Sea population is classified as "endangered," washed ashore dead in Tarabya. The following day, a necropsy performed by TÜDAV experts in Beykoz revealed that the dolphin had been killed with a shotgun. More than 100 pellets and wads (used to propel pellets) were found in the wound on the dolphin's head. Because these fragments were found in the tissue, it is estimated that the shot was fired from a very short distance (1.5 to 2 meters). Furthermore, the healing wounds and the old pellets found in the fatty layer on its head indicated that the dolphin had been shot in the head once before but had survived to this age. During the necropsy, it was determined that, apart from the fatal wound, the bottlenose dolphin was healthy and had a normal structure, and its stomach was full. It is estimated that the dolphin, most likely shot in the Black Sea or north of the Bosphorus, was carried to Tarabya by the surface currents of the Marmara Sea.
TÜDAV, which reported the killing of the protected dolphin to the relevant authorities via the Prime Minister's Communication Center (BİMER), also requested that all fishing and port authorities check the permits for carrying hunting rifles on boats, and that the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock of the Republic of Turkey prohibit the possession of all types of rifled/unrifled, licensed/unlicensed weapons/rifles on all fishing boats and urgently add this provision to the amateur/commercial fishing regulations. TÜDAV also reiterated its demands that the relevant ministries and governorships offer a reward for information leading to the discovery of such intentional killings, and that penalties be increased to make them more deterrent.
This is not the first such case in the Bosphorus. On May 26, 2015, a dolphin found dead on Bebek beach was also determined to have been shot at least once from the side. Six pellet holes were found in its body, and one pellet was removed during the necropsy. The perpetrators have still not been caught (https://www.tudav.org/index.php/tr/balina-yunus-ve-fok-arast-rmalar/354-bogaz-da-yunus-vahseti).
Three species of dolphins live in the Black Sea: the common dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, and the striped dolphin. All marine mammal species are protected by law. However, dolphins face problems such as accidental entanglement in nets, lack of food due to overfishing, pollution, and heavy, noisy maritime traffic. Besides these problems, intentional killings are also a common occurrence.
We must stop this cruelty. Dolphins lived here, in these seas, before humans did. We need to learn to live alongside other living creatures. If you see a dead or injured dolphin, please contact TÜDAV. TÜDAV encourages support for the campaign on Change.org to ban the carrying of firearms on all fishing boats: https://www.change.org/silahsizbalikcilik.
Dolphins and TÜDAV await your support for the protection of the marine ecosystem as a whole.
