Dolphins have appeared in Istanbul’s major and international Bosporus waterway as ship traffic sees a dramatic drop due to coronavirus lockdown in Turkey.

Dolphins have been sighted swimming near the shore, where Ortakoy mosque and Bosporus bridge located.

Apparently, the silencing of boat and human traffic brought them literally to the shore amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Istanbul's dolphins now hang out very close to the shore, where iconic Ortaköy Mosque and Bosporus Bridge located," one social media user remarked on Twitter.

On April 3, Turkey’s President Erdoğan announced a 15-day entry ban to the 30 provinces with metropolitan status as well as Zonguldak as a part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the country.

In the late hours of 10 April, through an order issued by the Ministry of the Interior, curfews were declared for the upcoming weekend in the 30 provinces with metropolitan status and Zonguldak, starting from 12:00 am on 11 April and lasting for 48 hours.

President Erdoğan announced in an address on 13 April, that until further notice such curfews would be in force also during subsequent weekends. (ILKHA)