Türkiye · 2000—2026
Mediterranean monk seal
Seals around Türkiye.
Follow public seal observations from Türkiye. Browse published records, explore the places and stories behind them, or share an encounter with the Seal Watch team.
- Total reports
- 72
- Latest observation
Public reports · newest first
Public records archive
25 November 2017—16 January 2026
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All areasMarkers represent broad named areas, never exact observation locations. Select an area to filter the archive.
24 of 72 reports mapped · 5 areas
Other reported areas
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- Akyaka2 reports
- Aliağa1 report
- Anamur1 report
- Aydıncık1 report
- Bozyazı2 reports
- Çeşme2 reports
- Datça5 reports
- Demre3 reports
- Didim1 report
- Dilek Peninsula1 report
- Fethiye1 report
- Gazipaşa2 reports
- Gökova1 report
- Hisarönü1 report
- Istanbul coast2 reports
- Karabiga1 report
- Karaburun1 report
- Kaş3 reports
- Kemer1 report
- Konyaaltı1 report
- Kuşadası2 reports
- Mordoğan4 reports
- Muratpaşa1 report
- Ören1 report
- Samandağ1 report
- Seferihisar1 report
- Türkiye2 reports
- Yalıkavak2 reports
- Yeşilovacık1 report
Map: Natural Earth.
Reports over time
Select a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified İHA / Antalya Körfez Gazetesi
Observation: An adult Mediterranean monk seal was reported resting on Mermerli Beach at about 11:30. Marine police attended, and the seal returned to the sea.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Demirören Haber Ajansı (DHA)
Observation: A Mediterranean monk seal came ashore on a hotel beach in Belek and later returned to the sea.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified DHA / SAD-AFAG response report
Observation: A walker found a dead young monk seal in a rock pool. Responders identified it as the pup found at Çaltıcak on 4 December 2024 and later released after rehabilitation; these are two dated encounters with one animal.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Levent Yenigün / DHA, citing SAD-AFAG
Observation: Researchers found a young Mediterranean monk seal separated from its mother during stormy weather. After monitoring, it was taken into rehabilitation on 8 December.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified İhlas Haber Ajansı
Observation: People fishing beside the Muratpaşa sea cliffs filmed a Mediterranean monk seal surfacing and swimming before it disappeared beneath the cliffs.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Шальнов Кирилл — iNaturalist (borhammere)
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified epistemophagus — iNaturalist
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Ahmet Acar / DHA, reproduced by Gün Haber
Observation: Ergun Dündar filmed a young Mediterranean monk seal among boats in Kaş harbour. The account describes morning and evening visits on the same day; they are grouped as one report.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Danyer et al. (2018), stranding review
Observation: Another dead monk seal pup was reported from the Kaleiçi area and buried without necropsy. This was separate from the carcass found on 25 November.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Danyer et al. (2018), original necropsy report
Observation: A dead female monk seal pup was found at Kaleiçi. Researchers later necropsied this carcass and found heavy intestinal nematode infestation.