Preliminary study on a stranding case of Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) on Antalya coast, Turkey, August 2013

The Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. On 15 August 2013, an adult female monk seal was found stranded on the coast of Antalya, Turkey. Previously on 6 July 2013, this seal stranded alive in Historic Alanya Shipyard. Gross necropsy was carried out. The seal was emaciated and were nematodes, cestodes and trematodes found in the gastrointestinal tract. Macroscopic findings indicated that hypovolemic shock resulted in death because of internal bleeding which occurred by verminous intoxication or systemic infection. This paper summarizes the preliminary findings of the gross necropsy.