A commendably brave act of international cooperation in Fethiye, instigated and organised by marine biologist Meryem Tekin, has saved one of the rarest species of whale ever sighted on the Turkish coast. The adult female Sowerby’s Beaked Whale measured just less than 5 metres and weighed approximately one tonne. ‘There have been erroneous reports describing it as a dolphin but when its size and features are understood there is no question of what it is.’ Says Tekin.

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Lost Stranger

On Friday 9th January 2009 a large grey creature was seen wallowing in the water around the boat yard well inside the bay of Fethiye.

Fethiye’s resident marine biologist Meryem Tekin donned her wet suit and boots to examine the new arrival.

The large, grey creature was wallowing in the shallows, underneath the hulks of yachts and gulets and surrounded by the paraphernalia expected in an industrial area. Not the most accessible place to do a full examination and to instigate a rescue.

The local Zabita or Municipal Policing Authority had said it was a dolphin and the crowds of people assembled to watch the event thought the same but Tekin knew better. (more…)

Close to midnight of 9th of January [9 01 2009 ]… Axel Linke owner of ONMEGA Ltd. dolphin therapy center in Marmaris receives a phone call from Coast Guard of Fethiye and owner of Diving Center Fethiye sea biologist Maryam Tekin and Jane Tuna… A Dolphin or whale had been found in Fethiye bay and its understood that he can not find a way out of bay…

Nearly midgnight, Axel Linke owner of Onmega Ltd. Dolphin Therapy Center in Marmaris, Elena Gerasimova (Onmega Director), Sven Parmiter (Rescue Diver) and Vasili Grinov (Dolphin Trainer and sea mammal specialist) [ONMEGA] starts to ride from Marmaris to Fethiye help the Coast Guard rescue the lost Mammal in the Bay… After arrival, at the end of a long time looking for a rescue boat, finally a diver team allocates theirs’ for the rescue operation. (more…)