A Joyful Loss

Her release ceremony was perfectly done. Her caretakers, volunteers, seal lovers, media, uniformed and smiling carriers of her release cage, the minister and the mayor were all there to celebrate her release. As soon as the audience saw the photos and the footage of Badem, everybody was her family. They giggled and made exclamations as if they were watching a photo album of a loved one. There she was with her dry black eyes shrunken inwards! She was so skinny then! Look how she tries to bite the hose! Isn't she lovely! Wow she's chasing an eel now like a guided missile with her eyes crossed!

Five months ago there had been a fierce storm. She swam alone in a sea empty as a desert on cold winter days. She used her instincts to stay alive. When she reached the shores of Didim, she hauled out and collapsed upon the seaweed. She could hardly make it this far. Well-intentioned onlookers, on the other hand, tried to push her back into the water as if she'd washed ashore like a dolphin. It was AFAG's phone call that stopped this. Didim's veterinarian helped us take the necessary measures.

From then on, all our decades of effort to protect monk seals paid off. We harvested the seeds we had sown - that is to say, everybody who had once been involved or interested in the monk seal got organized and did their best during her rescue and rehabilitation. Mustafa Koc, a businessman, sponsored the efforts. The Municipality of Foça constructed a fully equipped rehabilitation unit. The SRRC sent one of its best caregivers. Fishermen caught octopus for her. Journalists rushed in to let the news spread. It was our first baby.