27 Baby Monk Seals Born - Greece

Twenty seven new baby Monk Seals have been born since the start of the current breeding season according to a report issued by the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal (MoM).

The Monachus Monachus Seal is one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals, and there are less than 600 of them left in the world.

Approximately 300 of them are found in Greek waters with the largest populations at the National Marine Park Alonnisos, the Northern Sporades Kimolos-Poylaigos island complex and the southwestern Cyclades. In ancient times, the Monachus Monachus enjoyed the protection of Apollo and Poseidon and their sighting was always welcomed by fishermen.

Nowadays, seals often get entangled in fishing lines and occasionally they get persecuted by fishermen who perceive the species as a competitor for fish, whose population is being depleted due to over fishing.

Individuals can participate in the effort to save the Monk Seals by adopting one through the adoption programme by Mom. The programme funds are used for research, rescue, and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned animals.