Monk Seal
Once upon a time in #MyBlueMed, there was a flourishing and autonomous city state on the Greek island of Gyaros. Later on though, human presence became scarcer, as it turned into a place of exile first, a target range for the Navy later and finally a historical site.
Being unpopulated has its advantages though. It has made this arid spot in the northern Cyclades a perfect place for a unique biodiversity, which includes the shrub phrygana, falcons, migratory birds and the only place in Greece where one finds the green whip snake.
But the best kept secret of all is the almost miraculous presence of a rare and shy animal: the Mediterranean monk seal, the world's rarest pinniped species and the most endangered marine mammal in Europe! Half the global population of the species lives in the Greek seas and that accounts for a maximum of 300 individuals.
It’s wonderful that they feel safe enough to breed and feed their pups on the open beaches of this island, instead of marine caves which they prefer when they sense the presence of humans. Given that females only have a pup a year and that the lactation and nursing period lasts up to 4 months if not more (being one of the longest periods observed in any seal species), their survival is even more challenging. Commercial hunting, elimination by fishermen, heavy ship traffic, coastal urbanization and pollution are major reasons why we have witnessed a decline in the numbers of this dark furred marine animal.
Luckily, over the past decade, numerous organizations, including WWF, have worked hard in conjunction with local fishermen to protect the Monk seal’s habitat and food sources, by monitoring illegal fishing and hunting activities and educating the public on this endangered species.
Marine Protected Areas and sustainable fisheries have also been created for the benefit of not just this animal and the sea but also of the people whose livelihoods depends upon the Med. Recently there have been reported sightings of the monk seal in Lebanon, Israel, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Gibraltar.
So hope is in the air…or in the water!
Considering that one of the first coins minted, from over 2500 years ago, depicted the head of a monk seal, and that these creatures were mentioned by no less than Homer, Plutarch and Aristotle, you can understand why this species is truly symbolic of the Med, belonging to it not only from an ecological perspective but also from a cultural one.
And while catching sight of this mammal, though difficult, is considered good luck, you can certainly say that thismysterious hidden presence has in itself an appeal that contributes to the overall charm of the Mediterranean area, attracting millions of people from all over the world. http://www.mybluemed.org/story.php?id=10-monk-seal
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