[62] Oil companies apparently may have been using the monk seal sanctuary project as a stalking horse to encourage greater cooperation between the Greek and Turkish governments as a preliminary to pushing for oil extraction rights in a geopolitically unstable area. As there are indications of small population increases in the subpopulations, as of 2015, the Mediterranean monk seal's IUCN conservation status has been updated from critically endangered to endangered in keeping with the IUCN's speed-of-decline criteria, with a recommendation for re-assessment in 2020.[1]. One cause of this low survival rate is the timing of high surf around the areas of breeding, creating a threat to young pups. They are successful bottom-feeding hunters; some have even been observed lifting slabs of rock in search of prey. Vagrants could be found as far south as Gambia and the Cape Verde islands, and as far north as continental Portugal and Atlantic France. There are eight pairs of teeth in both jaws. Monk seals are part of the mammalian group of carnivores named Pinnipedia, which includes all the species of seals, sea lions and walrus. The seals are fed with fish and other seafood. [11], In 2008, lactation was reported in an open beach, the first such record since 1945, which could suggest the seal could begin feeling increasingly safe to return to open beaches for breeding purposes in Cabo Blanco. The Environment and Urbanization Minister of Turkey announced on 18 November 2019 that a plan was proposed to further preserve the species to allow the sub species of Foça, Gökova, Datça and Bozburun to increase in numbers.[64]. [1], Several causes provoked a dramatic population decrease over time: on one hand, commercial hunting (especially during the Roman Empire and Middle Ages) and, during the 20th century, eradication by fishermen, who used to consider it a pest due to the damage the seal causes to fishing nets when it preys on fish caught in them; and, on the other hand, coastal urbanization and pollution. NATURAL EVENTS . [47], On 13 August 2015, ten monk seals were spotted in Governor's Beach, Limassol, Cyprus. [3] It is believed to be the world's rarest pinniped species.[1]. It was named Eomonachus belegaerensis (dawn monk seal from Belegaer - the sea west of J.R.R. In ancient Greece, the Mediterranean monk seals were placed under the protection of Poseidon and Apollo because they showed a great love for the sea and the Sun. All the other remaining subpopulations are composed of less than 50 mature individuals, many of them being only loose groups of extremely reduced size – often less than five individuals.[1]. [5] Adults will continue to molt annually, causing their color vibrancy to change throughout the year. Because of these seals' shy nature and sensitivity to human disturbance, they have slowly adapted to try to avoid contact with humans completely within the last century, and, perhaps, even earlier. [18][19][20], Colonies on the Pelagie Islands (Linosa and Lampedusa) were destroyed by fishermen, which likely resulted in local extinction.[21]. During other months of the year, pups have an estimated survival rate of 71%. [46], On 7 April 2015, a large floating "fish" was reported near Raouche, Beirut in Lebanon, and collected by a local fisherman. Monk seals have two pairs of retractable abdominal teats, unlike most other pinnipeds. [48], On 6 January 2016, a monk seal climbed aboard a parked boat in Kuşadası. Greece, Cyprus and Turkey still maintain a large population of the species, with around 350-450 individuals. Greece is currently investigating the possibility of declaring another monk seal breeding site as a national park, and also has integrated some sites in the NATURA 2000 protection scheme. In November 2014, an adult monk seal was reportedly seen inside the port of Limassol, Cyprus. [12], Pups make first contact with the water two weeks after their birth and are weaned at around 18 weeks of age; females caring for pups will go off to feed for an average of nine hours. The MoU covers four range States (Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal and Spain), all of which have signed, and aims at providing a legal and institutional framework for the implementation of the Action Plan for the Recovery of the Mediterranean Monk Seal in the Eastern Atlantic. There are fewer than 500 remaining in the wild today and most of them are in the waters around Greece’s northern Aegean islands. [1] Most female individuals are believed to reach maturity at four years of age unto which they will begin to breed. On 27 January 2020, a young monk seal was spotted in Apulia. As well, if a female determines that her environment is not a safe one, she can initiate an abortion, indirectly lowering the population. THE ENDANGERED MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL Monachus monachus IN THE IONIAN SEA, GREECE Aliki Panou, Jtirgen Jacobs & Dimitris Panos Zoologisches 1nstitut, Universitdt Mfinchen, Seidlstrasse 25, D-8000 Mfinchen 2, Germany (Received 6 March 1991; revised version received 30 March 1992; accepted 14 May 1992) Abstract The declining population of monk seals on the Ionian … The species status is virtually moribund in the western Mediterranean, which still holds tiny Moroccan and Algerian populations, associated with rare sightings of vagrants in the Balearic Islands,[17] Sardinia, and other western Mediterranean locations, including Gibraltar. The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is currently one of the most endangered marine mammals on Earth with fewer than 700 individuals estimated to survive in the wild. [16], These two key sites are virtually in the extreme opposites of the species' distribution range, which makes natural population interchange between them impossible. The aim is to release it back into the wild as soon as it is strong enough. Cabo Blanco, in the Atlantic Ocean, is the largest surviving single population of the species, and the only remaining site that still seems to preserve a colony structure. The Greek Alonissos Marine Park, that extends around the Northern Sporades islands, is the main action ground of the Greek MOm organisation. Believed to have the shortest hair of any pinniped, the Mediterranean monk seal fur is black (males) or brown to dark grey (females), with a paler belly, which is close to white in males. In 2009, for the first time in centuries, a female delivered her pup on the beach (open beaches is the optimal habitat for the survival of pups, but had been abandoned due to human disturbance and persecution in past centuries). In the week of 22–28 April 2013, what is believed to have been a monk seal was viewed in Tyre, southern Lebanon; photographs have been reported among many local media. [43] A study by the Italian Ministry of the Environment in 2013 confirmed the presence of monk seals in marine protected area in the Egadi Islands. [53], On 13 June 2017, a specimen was spotted and photographed by a group of fishermen off the coasts of Tricase in the south of Italy. There may be some individuals using coastal areas among other parts of Western Sahara, such as in Cintra Bay. Do not hesitate to ask the community! Mediterranean monk seals are diurnal and feed on a variety of fish and mollusks, primarily octopus, squid, and eels, up to 3 kg per day. [54], In early 2018 a mother and her pup were spotted around Paphos Harbour in Cyprus. MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Athens, Greece. A study describing the discovery of a hitherto unknown colony of the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal in Greece [59], Damage inflicted on fishermen's nets and rare attacks on off-shore fish farms in Turkey and Greece are known to have pushed local people towards hunting the Mediterranean monk seal, but mostly out of revenge, rather than population control. The exact location was not communicated so as to keep the site protected. Final report to EC LIFE–Nature 2000 Project (LIFE00NAT/GR/7248). Countries: Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Israel, Greece and Turkey. [28] On 31 December 2010, the BBC Earth news[29] reported that the MOM Hellenic Society[30] had located a new colony of seals on a remote beach in the Aegean Sea. The newly-born seal stays in the cave for two weeks before it gets into the sea. The first seals appeared on the face of the earth approximately 20 million years ago. [4] Data analysis indicates that only 29% of pups born between September and January survive. (2010) C Michael Hogan (Topic Editor), This page was last edited on 16 December 2020, at 04:25. [27] In November 2010, a Mediterranean monk seal, supposedly aged between 10 and 20, had been spotted in Bodrum, Turkey. Tolkien's Middle Earth from Lord of the Rings). A female monk seal, called Argiro by the locals, was repeatedly seen on beaches of Samos island in 2014 and 2015,[45] and two were reported in April 2016. [34] On 2 May 2013 a specimen was seen on the southernmost point of Istrian peninsula near the town of Pula. Tolkien). Undisturbed sandy beaches and rocky coastal cliffs and grottos have become rare in their entire area of distribution. The main goal of the proposed project, which is led by MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study … [15], However, the threat of a similar incident, which could severely reduce or wipe out the entire population, remains. Its name derives from its appearance that resembles the hood of catholic monks. [36] In summer 2014 sightings in Pula have occurred almost daily and monk seal stayed multiple times on crowded city beaches, sleeping calm for hours just few meters away from humans. The monk seals Monachus-Monachus are thought to be among the rarest mammal species of the world. [9]. Sergei R. Grinevetsky, Igor S. Zonn, Sergei S. Zhiltsov, Aleksey N. Kosarev, Andrey G. Kostianoy, 2014, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning Conservation Measures for the Eastern Atlantic Populations of the Mediterranean Monk Seal, Mediterranean Monk Seal Memorandum of Understanding, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T13653A45227543.en, https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=8079, "Monachus monachus (Mediterranean monk seal)", "Mediterranean Monk Seal Fact Files: Biology: External appearance and anatomy", "Alonissos Honoured By National Geographic's 'Best Of The World List' 2021", "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", "Mediterranean Monk Seal News II - Monachus Guardian 11 (2): November 2008", A new sighting of the Mediterranean Monk Seal, Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779), in the Marmara Sea (Turkey), "La colonia de focas monje de Mauritania se ha triplicado desde su crisis de 1997", "Gruppo d'Intervento Giuridico o.n.l.u.s. And more? According to Johnson, the Greek secret service, the YPEA, were against such moves and sabotaged the project to the detriment of both the seals and conservationists, who, unaware of such covert motivations, sought only to protect the species and its habitat. Preservation of the species requires both the preservation of land and sea, due to the need for terrestrial haul-out sites and caves or caverns for the animal to rest and reproduce. [57], On 26 March 2019, a young monk seal and a mature one 1.5 meter were sighted in Vlora, Albania, in the Ionian sea. According to recent studies, biologists believe … [61] MOm is greatly involved in raising awareness in the general public, fundraising for the helping of the monk seal preservation cause, in Greece and wherever needed. One of the largest groups among the foundations concentrating their efforts towards the preservation of the Mediterranean monk seal is the Mediterranean Seal Research Group (Turkish: Akdeniz Foklarını Araştırma Grubu) operating under the Underwater Research Foundation (Turkish: Sualtı Araştırmaları Derneği) in Turkey (also known as SAD-AFAG). In just a 2 hour drive from Athens, you arrive at Kamena Vourla, a picturesque location where the mountains meet the sea. [39] Despite clear instructions, an incident occurred with a tourist harassing a seal. Its current very sparse population is one more serious threat to the species, as it only has two key sites that can be deemed viable. [8] This hair is replaced after six to eight weeks by the usual short hair adults carry. [22], Only by 2016 the colony had recovered to its previous population (about 300 animals). The Monk seal population in Greece has been estimated to number 200 - 250, representing approximately 90% of the European population of the species. As of 2020, it's thought that there are roughly 500 pairs of monk seals remaining in the world. Greeka? Members of the Israel Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center arrived at the scene and tried to locate the injured mammal, but with no success. In the Aegean Sea, Greece has allocated a large area for the preservation of the Mediterranean monk seal and its habitat. This was made possible by a recovery plan financed by Spain. [32], On 24 June 2011, the Blue World Institute of Croatia [33] filmed an adult female underwater in the northern Adriatic, off the island of Cres and a specimen of unverified sex on 29 June 2012. [52], On 3 November 2016, a monk seal was spotted at the coast of Gialousa in Cyprus. Eds. 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