Man fined for illegally selling bats in Turkey's Muğla

A man in the Fethiye district of the Aegean province of Muğla has been fined to 3,731 Turkish liras (roughly $1,060) for illegally selling bats.

The Fethiye National Conservation National Parks Conservation Hunting Protection Teams contacted the suspect upon a notice. The suspect was caught red-handed while trying to sell five greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and bent-wing bats (Miniopterus schreibersii) to hunting protection teams.

The suspect was fined 1,231 liras for administrative charges in addition to 500 liras for the damage he gave to each bat. 

The wounded bats were freed to their natural habitats after undergoing veterinarian medical checks. 

There are 39 bat species under six families found in Turkey. 

The General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks said it is prohibited to capture, sell, buy and breed wild animals. 

"We need to inform the Regional Directorates of Forestry and Water Affairs of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks of these illegal sales in order to protect, develop and transfer our wildlife wealth to future generations," a statement by the directorate said.