Our Animal Friends Whose Statues Were Erected and Their Stories

Some of the statues erected for different purposes in different parts of the world symbolizing love and loyalty Some of them reveal the cruelty of human beings.

Our friends with the statues we listed will touch your memories, You will understand their stories from the language of the statues.

Hachiko, shown as an example of loyalty

Akita dog Hachiko, born in 1923, was owned by Japanese Professor Dr. in 1924. Hidesaburo met Ueno. Hachiko tells his owner every morning He was accompanying me to the subway. Up to this point, their lives continued normally.

One evening, Professor Ueno saw Hachiko waiting for him at the subway exit after work and was astonished. Hachiko calculated when his owner would arrive and thought he would come the same way. He started waiting at the subway exit.

One day, Hachiko could not meet the owner he was waiting for. He waited for one, two, three days, but the professor did not come. The professor died of a brain hemorrhage while teaching in his class. However, Hachiko loved his owner with the hope that one day he would come. for 9 years He waited at the subway exit.

Hachiko; He died at the subway door on March 8, 1935, when he was 11 years old. Hachiko’s cremated ashes were buried next to the grave of his beloved owner. If the Japanese symbol of loyalty He erected his statue in the place where he expected it to be.

That gate of Shibuya Station today Hachiko exit It is known as and thousands of animal lovers gather in front of the statue on the anniversary of his death. Since his death, Hachiko has been the subject of many films. Also Hachiko mummified state, It is exhibited at the National Science Museum of Japan.

Another dog that has become an icon with its loyalty: Greyfriars Bobby

Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye Terrier born in 1814, was owned by John Grey. He was a protection dog. Bobby, who did not leave his owner’s side even for a moment when he caught tuberculosis in 1857, did not leave him after his death.

For 14 years, until his own death, his owner guarding the grave Bobby lives in Edinburgh symbol of absolute loyalty became. In order to keep his memory alive, IV. His statue was erected on the fountain at the exit of George Bridge. Booby, like many animals whose monuments have been erected, has been the subject of books and movies.

Mancs saves lives in many parts of the world

German shepherd dog Mancs is the most famous member of the Spider Special Rescue Team in Hungary He was a rescue dog. The skill of Mancs, which means claw, was trapped under the rubble. find earthquake victims and notify the rescue team.

Mancs can even distinguish whether people under the rubble are dead or alive; He was reporting the situation with reactions such as standing up, wagging his tail and barking. Mancs took part in many earthquakes, including the 2001 India and El Salvador earthquake. 1999 Izmit earthquake He became famous with. Mancs saved the life of a 3-year-old girl who was trapped under rubble for 82 hours.

Hungary in 2004 Miskolc city center Mancs’ statue was erected. Mancs died of pneumonia in 2006.

Frida, the search and rescue dog, the icon of Mexico

Occurred in Mexico in 2017 search and rescue in earthquake Frida, who became famous for her works, saved the lives of dozens of people with her glasses and neoprene booties. Frida, a Labrador Retrieve breed who participated in rescue efforts not only in Mexico but also in different parts of the world; He retired in 2010 and died in 2022 at the age of 13.

Shortly after the Mexico earthquake, a mural for Frida was painted in Roma Norte in Mexico City. In 2018 and 2022 His statue was erected in two different places.

When we say search and rescue dog, another name comes to our mind. That is Proteo

Proteo, the German shepherd dog, is a dog we all know well. In the earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş Proteo, who came from Mexico for search and rescue, was the police dog of the Mexican Ministry of Defense.

Proteo, who participated and rescued many earthquakes throughout his life, helped recover 29 dead bodies in Turkey, All 3 people alive He helped pull it out from under the rubble. Proteo died of old age on February 10. His instructor stated that Proteo died during the mission, not under the rubble.

Although Proteo’s body was buried in the AFAD tent camp garden, Mexico described as a soldier He asked for it to be sent to their country.

In Turkey, Proteo’s death deeply saddened everyone. Stray animals from the rehabilitation center Proteo’s name was used in many places, including the names of plush toys.

In September 2023, Proteo’s statue was exhibited in his country, Mexico. Istanbul Sarıyer Municipality To Atsushi Miyazaki Park He announced that he would erect a statue of Proteo.

Opening from Istanbul to the whole world, Tombili

Tombili, which is so new that it cannot be forgotten, is a town in Istanbul. photo taken on paving stone It quickly became a social media phenomenon. 9GAG and Reddit Tombili, which found its place on world-famous sites such as, became a “meme”.

A campaign was launched on Change.org for Tombili, who died of kidney failure on August 1, 2016. 17 thousand signatures His statue was made with. His statue was placed in his place in Güleç Dead End, Istanbul, on October 4, 2016. Although the statue was stolen a short time later, it was found 3 days later and replaced.

Bob saved his owner from heroin addiction

Bob, the street cat who is loved by children and adults all over the world with the books written in his name, is one of the animals whose statue is honored by erecting it. in 2007 drug addict and homeless James Bowen Found injured by Bob, he was treated by Bowen and never left his side after that.

Bowen says Bob gives him a reason to get up every morning. He begins heroin treatment. Bob’s videos, which changed the life of street artist Bowen, were uploaded to YouTube by the public and Bob became famous in a short time.

Bob accidentally in 2020 Escape from the skylight left open He died after being run over by a car near his home.

The book “A Street Cat Named Bob: How He Saved My Life” Listed on both The Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller lists entry. At the same time, movies and music were made for Bob. In 2021, a statue of the bank where James Bowen wrote the book “A Street Cat Named Bob” was made.

The best racehorse of all time: Secretariat

Secretariat, known as charming and unhurried in crowds; American-born, thoroughbred racehorse. Secretariat made history by coming first in 16 of the 21 races he participated in, and was also recognized by many as The best racehorse of all time.

Secretariat’s heart, whose most important records have still not been broken, was twice as big as other horses. If the death of the horse euthanasia It happened with. Secretariat, who had a painful nail disease, was put to sleep at the age of 19 when his treatment did not yield positive results.

Secretariat’s biography is covered a movie as are Two different places in New York There are statues.

Another horse statue is on Büyükada as a reaction.

We went to Büyükada to draw attention to the animals suffering before the use of horse-drawn carriages in the Islands was terminated. horse with bleeding nose His statue was placed. The purpose of the statue, placed in Büyükada İskele Square by a group of activists advocating animal freedom, is to officially protect animals. in slavery It was to show clearly that they paid for this with their lives.

Although it was a very late decision, it will be replaced by phaetons by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 2020. the arrival of electric vehicles, It was good news in terms of the end of the torture.

Marjan, who became a symbol of peace in Afghanistan

Marjan, one of the most well-known figures of the Kabul Zoo, is a lion gifted to Afghanistan from Germany in 1978. of Afghanistan Soviet occupation, Taliban regime Marjan was tortured by a murderous soldier during the war.

In 1995, a soldier who wanted to show off his so-called bravery entered the den of Marjan and the other lioness. After Marjan killed the soldier, he was confronted by the dead soldier’s brother the next day. The soldier who wants revenge, He threw a grenade into his lair. and left Marjan severely injured, blind and deaf. From that day on, Marjan was never seen again because of the wound in her mouth. He could never eat meat with bones.

Marjan passed away in 2002 due to old age. Many people from the public attended the funeral of Marjan, who was buried in the zoo. After his death, another lion was sent from China to replace Marjan. Also Marjan’s name The Kite Runner He was featured in many books, especially.

Warrior bear Wojtek

II. Wojtek, the brown bear in the Polish army in World War II promoted to the rank of corporal an animal. Wojtek, who became famous for carrying supplies and bullets, smoking cigarettes and discovering spies, took his name from the Slavic name Wojciech-From Happy Warrior taking.

Wojtek, who wrestled with soldiers and learned to salute, became the mascot of all units after entering the army. Discharged from the army in 1947, the bear spent the rest of his life at Edinburgh Zoo passed. The statue of Wojtek, who died in 1963 at the age of 21, was erected in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh in 2015.

Kazan cats, famous for catching mice

The history of this huge cat statue located in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, dates back to the 1700s. Empress Elizabeth Petrovna of RussiaSince there were no mice in Kazan, he sent 30 Kazan cats to the Winter Palace (now the Hermitage Museum) in Saint Petersburg. Cats, He was assigned to catch the mice that were multiplying in the palace.

In 2009, in memory of cats, a statue of a Kazan cat lying under the gazebo was erected in the center of Kazan. Considering the size of the cat, it is obvious that it eats many mice with pleasure. Descendants of Kazan cats It is said that he continues to live in the Hermitage Museum. The museum also has a fund of cat friends. In March, holidays are held with plenty of food for cats.

The statue that makes you wonder whether it is remorse or honor

One of the world’s leading universities in the field of genetics Novosibirsk State University There is a sculpture in the garden about the use of mice in experiments. The purpose of the statue is The one who made the greatest sacrifice for the progress of humanity be these brave rodents.

The statue added to the campus in 2013; knitting a DNA chain with glasses, cardigan and knitting needles a veteran mouse is depicted.

Albert II, the first mammal sent into space

Albert II, which flew to an altitude of 134 km with a rocket from the US Holloman Air Force Base in 1949. first primate and first mammal in space A macaque monkey that has the distinction of being Albert during the flight died by drowning It is also thought that he may have died by getting stuck in the space capsule before launch.

Albert II cannot be called the first animal to go into space. Because in 1947 fruit flies was sent into space by rocket and the flies returned alive. However, Albert’s statue is in memory of the other monkeys who died after Albert. To Kronvalda Park in Riga erected.

Bonus: Another friend of ours who has won our hearts even though he doesn’t have a statue:

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