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Help animals

You don't have to be grown-up to help animals. Small kind things you do every day make their world safer.

Kind things you can do every day

At home and on the street

  • On hot days, put a bowl of clean water on your balcony or in your garden for birds and street animals.
  • Feed street animals together with a grown-up. Chocolate, onions, grapes and salty food can make them ill.
  • Don't disturb an animal that is sleeping, eating or with its babies — watch from a distance.
  • If you want a pet, talk with your family about adopting from a shelter instead of buying one.

In nature

  • Take your rubbish home with you. Plastic bags and bottle caps can end up in animals' stomachs.
  • Don't touch bird nests, eggs or baby animals. A fluffy baby bird on the ground usually has its parents nearby.
  • Don't feed wild animals — human food makes them ill and draws them towards roads.
  • Never light fires in forests. If you see smoke or fire, tell a grown-up straight away.

At the sea and on the beach

  • Keep away from sea turtle nests marked with cages on the beach, and never step on them.
  • On summer nights, don't shine torches on beaches where turtles nest — hatchlings mistake the light for the sea and get lost.
  • Never leave rubbish on the beach or in the sea. Sea turtles can mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and swallow them.
  • If you see a seal or a dolphin, don't get close or follow it — enjoy watching from a distance.

To protect the planet

  • Don't waste water or electricity. Climate change is melting the ice polar bears live on.
  • Sort paper, plastic and glass for recycling.
  • Plant flowers in a pot or garden for bees and butterflies.
  • Tell your friends and family what you've learned — the more people know, the safer animals are.

If you find an injured or troubled animal

What should you do?

  1. Don't touch the animal or get too close. A scared or hurt animal may bite or scratch.
  2. Tell a grown-up straight away.
  3. Remember where the animal is and watch it from a distance until help comes.

Who can grown-ups call?

  • 112Emergency line: emergencies, injured animals, reporting animal cruelty, forest fires.
  • 153ALO 153 in most municipalities: reach the municipal veterinary service for street animals.
  • DKMPInjured wild animals (wild birds, turtles, seals, etc.): the provincial office of Nature Conservation and National Parks, or 112.

These numbers are for Türkiye. If a life is in danger, always call 112 first.

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Animals that need help most

These animals are endangered or vulnerable. Getting to know them is the first step to protecting them.