- Title: Stray cats struggle for survival in Istanbul
- Date: 9th April 2020
- Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (APRIL 9, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STRAY CATS EATING VARIOUS OF FATIH MUNICIPALITY WORKER, CEMAL BATUHAN GURPINAR, IN HAZMAT SUIT GIVING FOOD TO CATS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) FATIH MUNICIPALITY WORKER RESPONSIBLE FOR REHABILITATION OF STRAY ANIMALS, CEMAL BATUHAN GURPINAR, SAYING: "Since cafes and restaurants are closed and people do not get out, as Fatih Municipality Department of Health Affairs we have increased the frequency of these (feeding) periods in compliance with an order by the Interior Ministry. We are personally distributing the food. We made an arrangement according to the animal population in the districts and we serve according to that list. We increased the number of districts (we are serving). We are trying to do everything we can in these difficult times." MOSQUE UNDER CONSTRUCTION / GURPINAR GIVING BIRD SEED TO PIGEONS VARIOUS OF PIGEONS EATING BIRD SEED VARIOUS OF GURPINAR FEEDING PIGEONS
- Embargoed: 23rd April 2020 15:34
- Keywords: Turkey covid-19 cronavirus pigeons stray cats
- Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Health/Medicine,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001C8RQ1C7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Home to more than 150,000 stray cats, Istanbul is renowned for its felines perching on rooftops, prowling narrow backstreets and resting at the entrance of nearly every building in the city. Now the symbols of Europe's largest city are at risk of starving to death as the coronavirus outbreak forced the city's residents into quarantine.
Turkey's death toll stood at 812 on Wednesday (April 8) among a total of more than 38,000 confirmed cases. Some 60% of the cases are seen in Istanbul with more than 15,000 people tested positive.
The government has taken strict measures to limit social contact, quarantining some towns, banning mass prayers, closing schools, bars and restaurants and limiting inter-city travel.
Istanbul's Fatih Municipality is stepping in to save the stray animals' lives, distributing food for the cats as well as dogs and even pigeons. A municipality worker responsible for rehabilitation of stray animals, Cemal Batuhan Gurpinar said they have widened the area and frequency of their services due to the outbreak.
Volunteers and activists usually feed stray animals in Istanbul but self-quarantine and strict restrictions of movement hampered their activities.
(Production: Mehmet Caliskan, Omer Berberoglu) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
