Newsletters
At Canakkale City Cemetery, 41-year-old Baran Aladag has built a close bond with the squirrels he feeds every day, a friendship that's now drawing the attention of visitors.
Aladag, a cemetery staff member employed by Canakkale Municipality, began feeding two squirrels he came across at the site.
As the animals grew accustomed to him and their numbers increased over time, Aladag began feeding them regularly, and his friendship with the squirrels continues to surprise visitors.
Aladag told an AA correspondent that his friendship with the squirrels began when he gave them walnuts. Over time, he said, they grew accustomed to him, and their numbers eventually reached 60.
After several squirrels at the cemetery were run over by vehicles, Aladag said he began posting about them on social media to draw attention to their presence. One of the posts, he said, received 7.5 million views. "People started coming to see the squirrels," he added.
Aladag said that despite their similar appearance, he can tell the squirrels apart. "I know all of them," he said, comparing it to the way a parent recognizes their own child. He added that he can even tell them apart by their noses, and that he recognizes which squirrel is approaching him by its waddling gait.
Baran Aladag said that charitable individuals, as well as Canakkale Mayor Muharrem Erkek, have supported him in feeding the squirrels.
He also noted that the squirrels are jealous of one another and make a distinctive growling sound. Aladag said he has given some of them names, including "Boncuk," "Can," "Yigit," "Zeytin" and "Badem," adding that they seem to understand him and have grown used to listening to him after spending so much time together.
Before starting the job, Aladag said he knew nothing about squirrels, but began researching them online after he started feeding them.
He said he had wondered whether they could be kept at home, but learned that they cannot, since they tend to get sick in captivity.
"They're very quick and fast animals," he said. "They need to be in nature at all times. That's why I take care of them at the cemetery."
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
