Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • TÜRKİYE
  • Istanbul
  • Education
  • Investigations
  • Minorities
  • Expat Corner
  • Diaspora

Istanbul's commuter dog Boji wins hearts of fellow passengers

by Daily Sabah with Reuters

ISTANBUL Oct 06, 2021 - 1:43 pm GMT+3
Street dog Boji sits in a ferry that runs between the city's Asian and European sides, Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
Street dog Boji sits in a ferry that runs between the city's Asian and European sides, Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
by Daily Sabah with Reuters Oct 06, 2021 1:43 pm
RECOMMENDED
Selime Semra Erol poses holding Cordyceps militaris in Samandıra Forest, Istanbul, Türkiye, March 27, 2023. (AA Photo)

'Zombie fungus' from 'The Last of Us' spotted in Istanbul forest

cordyceps-militaris

Istanbul's mass transit system can be troublesome for humans, but it is still the best way to travel across the city. The Turkish metropolis is also home to a large number of stray dogs and cats, and now one of them enjoys the perks of a free ride.

In a packed Istanbul passenger ferry between Europe and Asia, all eyes turn to one commuter enjoying the view from his window. Boji, a street dog, has become a regular sight on ferries, buses and metro trains in Europe’s largest city. A devoted commuter, the dog enjoys long journeys on public transport, up to 30 kilometers (20 miles) on a regular weekday.

Boji sits on a tram in the Kadıköy district, in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
Boji sits on a tram in the Kadıköy district, in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)

Istanbul municipality officials who record the dog's trips with a microchip say he drops by at least 29 metro stations a day and was even tracked at sea, taking a weekend break to Adalar (the Princes' Islands) off the city's coast. With golden-brown fur, dark eyes and floppy ears, Boji started to draw attention two months ago.

Boji sleeps on a ferry that runs between the city's Asian and European sides, Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
Boji sleeps on a ferry that runs between the city's Asian and European sides, Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)

"We noticed a dog using our metros and trains and he knows where to go. He knows where to get out," said Aylin Erol, from Metro Istanbul, which runs the city's metro lines. "It's like he has a purpose," she added.

Boji lies on the ground in front of the Beşiktaş pier in the Kadıköy district, in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
Boji lies on the ground in front of the Beşiktaş pier in the Kadıköy district, in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)

Data collected from his tracking device shows historic tramlines are Boji's favorite but he is also a frequent subway commuter. Erol said the dog respects public transport rules and waits for disembarking passengers before hopping on the train. He enjoys traveling in the middle part of a subway carriage, or boji in Turkish – hence the name which officials gave him.

Boji stands as he yawns on a ferry that runs between the city's Asian and European sides, Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
Boji stands as he yawns on a ferry that runs between the city's Asian and European sides, Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)

Erol said he brought color into the lives of millions of commuters of the metropolis. Istanbulites post pictures of him on social media, and his own accounts have more than 50,000 followers. "You take the train and, suddenly, you see Boji. And look at him. He lies, just like this. You just smile and catch the moment, really. This is what Boji evokes for Istanbulites. He also reminds us that we can still enjoy Istanbul as we rush around."

RECOMMENDED
Selime Semra Erol poses holding Cordyceps militaris in Samandıra Forest, Istanbul, Türkiye, March 27, 2023. (AA Photo)

'Zombie fungus' from 'The Last of Us' spotted in Istanbul forest

cordyceps-militaris
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Oct 08, 2021 5:53 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    istanbul commuting ferry metro dogs animals mass transit stray animals
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Drakaris, a one-month-old baby Komodo dragon, one of five Komodo dragons born at Bioparc Fuengirola, rests in a terrarium in Fuengirola, southern Spain, March 28, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

    Endangered Komodo dragons hatch for 1st time in decade in Spain

    ENDANGERED-SPECIES
    A view from a session of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) General Assembly in the capital Ankara, Türkiye, Oct. 4, 2022. (AA Photo)

    Turkish parliament to vote on Finland's NATO bid

    TÜRKIYE-FINLAND-RELATIONS

    Türkiye criticizes support for YPG/PKK terrorists

    COUNTERTERRORISM-OPERATIONS

    Türkiye ratifies Finland's NATO membership bid

    nato-türkiye-relations
    No Image
    100 bird species living in eastern Türkiye photographed in study
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021