Mediterranean monk seals make remarkable return from brink of extinction
Renos-Pantelis is one of dozens of Mediterranean monk seals that have been nursed back to health by a Greek rehabilitation centre. (AP: Thanassis Stavrakis)
In short:
Once critically endangered and on the brink of extinction, Mediterranean monk seal populations are recovering thanks to dedicated conservation efforts.
Greek organisation, the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, known as MOm, rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and injured seals.
The species has moved from 'critically endangered' to 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conversation of Nature's Red List.
Once on the brink of extinction, rare Mediterranean monk seal populations are rising, thanks to conservation efforts.
The Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, known as MOm, is a charity dedicated to the care and protection of these rare marine animals.
Nearly half of the world's estimated 800 Mediterranean monk seals live in Greek waters, where the extensive coastline offers an abundance of sea caves that provide shelter for females to rear their young.
The rare seals are the only seal species in the Mediterranean. They have big, round eyes, prominent whiskers and are remarkably fast in the water.
Meet orphaned pup Panagis
Panagis is one of dozens of monk seals nursed back to health by the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, known as MOm. (AP: Thanassis Stavrakis)
Panagis is pictured hauling himself out of the pool at a Greek rehabilitation centre, eager to have whole mackerel for lunch.
It has been about three months since the orphaned seal pup was found struggling in the coastal waters of Cyprus near the carcass of his mother.
Locals alerted authorities and MOm arranged for his transfer to Athens by plane.
When Panagis arrived, he weighed just 15 kilograms. Now, at three months old, he has reached over 40 kilograms and is almost ready to return to the wild.
Panagis is one of dozens of Mediterranean monk seals nursed back to health by MOm.
Why Mediterranean monk seals were 'critically endangered'
Mediterranean monk seals are skilled hunters, consuming up to three kilograms of fish, octopus, and squid daily.
However, they are not partial to a ready meal, and can tear through nets to steal fish, which has led to fisherman viewing them as pests.
Loading...In the twentieth century, habitat deterioration and destruction, as well as deliberate aggression from fisherman has caused a drastic population decline, prompting the International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN) to classify them as 'critically endangered'.
The population had decreased so dramatically that at one point the species faced extinction.
How conservation efforts are changing their fate
Dr Alexandros Dendrinos, a marine biologist and coordinator at MOm, explains that the Mediterranean monk seal is "one of the rarest species of seal and marine mammal in the world."
"To protect an animal like the Mediterranean monk seal in its natural environment, you essentially have to protect the entire marine ecosystem,"he said.
MOm is the only centre of its kind in the region, and has cared for around 40 seals both on location and at its facilities.
They respond to members of the public who find an animal in distress, aiding adult seals on-site when possible and bringing young seals, like Panagais, to the rehabilitation centre at Attica Zoological Park in Athens.
Once rescued Mediterranean monk seals have reached a healthy weight and developed natural hunting instincts, they are tagged for tracking and released. (AP: Thanassis Stavrakis)
The young seals receive veterinary care, specialised nutrition, and swimming practice.
They are often named after those who found them, but human interaction is kept minimal to ensure their successful reintegration into the wild.
Once they have reached a healthy weight and developed natural hunting instincts, they are tagged for tracking and reintroduced to their natural habitat.
"This year, we had a really pleasant surprise," Dr Dendrinos shared.
A female seal they rehabilitated and released four years ago was recently spotted nursing her own pup.
Conservation efforts have yielded significant results as the species moved from critically endangered to endangered on the IUCN Red List and, in 2023, improved even further to vulnerable.