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Mediterranean monk seals, with their big, round eyes and gentle appearance, are cleverer than they look. Known for their sneaky tactic of snatching the catch from fishing nets and sometimes ripping them in the process, they have not been popular with fishermen, with some deliberately killing seals in retaliation.
The mammal, which was once widespread across the Mediterranean, Black Sea, northwest Africa, and the Atlantic islands of the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores, was also historically hunted for meat, oil and skins. As a result of these threats, populations suffered a dramatic decline in the 20th century, with the species becoming one of the most endangered marine mammals on Earth.
But in recent years, the tide has turned. While Mediterranean monk seals remain at risk, thanks to conservation efforts and legal protections, populations have bounced back. Some estimate that earlier this century, the population was between 400 and 600; now there are up to 1,000 estimated globally.
In 2015, thespecies wasreclassified from “critically endangered” to “endangered,” and two years ago, it was listed as“vulnerable.” Scientists hopethat with continued care, the species will have a brighter future.
Mediterranean monk seals can grow up to 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) long and weigh between 250 and 400 kilograms (550 to880 pounds). Males are generally darker, while females are silvery-gray or brown. They have relatively short, rounded flippers, and unlike most other seals,nostrils that point upward, giving them a gentle, almost dog-like expression.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to describe the Mediterranean monk seal, in his 4th century BC work “History of Animals.” He noted that the seals congregated in herds on open sandy beaches, shoreline rocks, and large accessible caverns, and described them as widespread, social, and an integral part of Mediterranean coastal life. The monk seal reportedly gets its name from the folds of skin around its neck, which early European naturalists thought resembled a monk’s hooded robe.
Today, the species is far more elusive, found mainly in the eastern Mediterranean, with the largest populations along the coastlines and hidden caves of Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus. Another population is found in Cabo Blanco, on the coast of Mauritania, northwest Africa. Dimitri Tsiakalos, of The Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal (MOm), a Greek conservation organization, says that Cabo Blanco is where you can still see a big colony where all the seals stick together: “That’s the sort of behavior they used to have in ancient times.”
In regions like Greece and Mauritania, centuries of persecution led the seals to abandon open beaches and adapt to using hidden marine caves for breeding and resting. Yet, there are signs that they are starting to slowly resume their oldhabits. “We’ve recorded births and nursing on open beaches again,” Tsiakalos explains. “It shows that as human attitudes improve, the seals are regaining confidence and returning to their original behavior.”
Efforts to protect the species have included establishing marine protected areas around key habitats, such as pupping caves; restricting fishing gear and relocating some dangerous fishing practices to reduce bycatch; and raising awareness of the species among the public and fishing communities. Ithas also been granted strong legal protections under various national and international laws and conventions.
MOm, one of the NGOs working to protect the seal, maps habitats, monitors populations and runs a dedicated rehabilitation center for orphaned or injured seals. It has also been working to change public attitudes. “The fishermen used to see us as enemies – now they’re becoming a part of our network,” says Tsiakalos.
While recent conservation efforts havebrought hope, the species still faces an uncertain future. Isolated and fragmented populations aresusceptible to ongoing threats, such as habitat degradation, pollution, disease, and the escalating impacts of climate change. “We must keep monitoring and taking action,” says Tsiakalos.We are carefully optimistic about the future of the Mediterranean monk seal. That’s the mindset we have. Hopefully, we can restore the species back to its proper place.”
