Whales species seen in Turkish waters in danger: Expert

Six whale species that live in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas have been classified as endangered after they were washed ashore due to fishing nets, currents, sickness and sonar frequency, according to a Turkish expert.

Conducting a series of research in the fields of taxonomy, Pedram Türkoğlu, a prominent zoologist, made a call for the protection of whale species seen on the Turkish waters, sharing the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

According to the organization's list, cachalot and Fin whale are deemed "susceptible," while European beaked whale, common beaked whales, beaked whale and minke whale are in the "least concern" category.

Stating that especially the population of cachalot and Fin whale species has ceased to be "near-threatened" and entered the "endangered" category, the expert, however, heralded that other species seen in the Turkish waters are not as endangered as the aforementioned duo.

"But this is not a success," said Türkoğlu, noting that it was important to keep their populations in this position.

"A few years later, we shouldn't see them in the category 'sensitive,' either," she noted, making a call to raise the awareness of the community about wildlife.

"We have to press the shutter, not the trigger," the expert added.

Noting that there are two groups of whales named 'toothed whales' and 'toothless whales,' Türkoğlu noted that all dolphins are toothed whale species and the largest known dolphin species is the orca, called the "killer whale."

Pointing out that whales were seen only in the Mediterranean and Aegean waters possibly due to their connection with the Atlantic Ocean, Türkoğlu said that only three dolphin species known as harbor porpoise,...