Seal killed with hunting rifle

ANTALYA - Doğan News Agency

AA Photo

A Mediterranean seal, which was under protection as it belonged to an endangered species, was killed with a hunting rifle by an unidentified attacker in the Antalya’s Alanya district.

A group of people realized that the seal was lying motionless on the sea surface when they saw blood in the sea. They notified gendarmerie and Gazipaşa Water, Outdoor Sports Club head Mustafa Akkoca. Also a sea biologist, Akkoca headed to the area and brought the seal, who was floating 15 meters away, to the shore. Akkoca discovered it had been shot dead with a hunting rifle.

“The seal, who nested in Kızılin Cave in Gazipaşa neighborhood, was called “Duman” by the locals.

Akkoca said there were nine holes on it’s head. “Probably they shot it in its head at close range with a hunting rifle. Since seals have thick skins, normal shots do not affect them. Predictably, it was shot by a “dumdum bullet.” Duman, two meters tall and weighs 150 kilograms, was the only Mediterranean seal in the region.

“The seal, which is nearly extinct and under protection, was brutally killed. I made contacts with the relevant institutions. An investigations will be conducted,” Akkoca said.