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Earth Sea & Sky
Ionian Fauna

 

Young Monk Seal Pup in cave So be it stranger; I will tell you all without deceit. When the sun in its course has reached mid-sky, the sage old sea-god leaves his ocean- the west wind blows then and ruffled water is dark enough to hide him. Once ashore, he lies down to sleep under the arching caves, and around him is a throng of seals, the brood of the lovely child of ocean. Homer, The Odyssey Monk Seal (Monachus Monachus) IUCN STATUS CATEGORY Critically endangered Monk seals are one of the most critically endangered marine mammals in the world today. The Mediterranean Monk Seal once frequented the sandy shores of Greece, and were considered a good omen to seafarers. It is ironic to think that they are now threatened with extinction due to the immense human pressure placed on their natural habitats by tourism, and the competitive modern fishing methods. What was once deemed a friend, inspired legend and verse is now looked on as a pest., and relies on secluded caves and isolated beaches to rear its young. Their future survival depends on the protection of their natural habitats in what is their last strong hold in the Mediterranean.The Mediterranean population is around 500 seals. Greece hosts one of the last key populations with around 250 seals inhabiting its smaller islands. Most of the population live around the Sporades islands in eastern greece, where The Hellenic Society for the protection of the Monk seal have established a rescue centre for abandoned pups, and operate a careful monitoring and research programme.  Research also indicates that stretches of the south west and northeast coasts of Zakynthos contain habitats of considerable importance for the survival of the Monk seal. Identification of individuals has indicated that at least 13 seals of various ages inhabit the area, around Zakynthos  while the total population number may be as many as 16 animals. A birth rate of 2 pups per year was recorded within the area during the operation of the WWF Monk seal project in Zakynthos which ran from 1997-1999. Sadly funding ran out for this project and there is now no official Monk Seal Project running in the central Ionian. Archipelagos a coastal and marine management organisation in Cephallonia assisted with the project in Zakynthos and have been operating a similar project on a voluntary basis since 1985. Their volunteers work in close co-operation with the fisher men whilst monitoring, and recording sightings of Monk Seal and Cetaceans in the Ionian Sea. The Monk seal sadly now exists in scattered and isolated populations in the Mediterranean, with out proper protection, and with only sporadic breeding they will almost certainly die out. The key to their future almost certainly depends on active protection of their breeding grounds, and the active co-operation between ngos and local fishermen.     Help us safeguard the future of the Ionian natural habitats and ensure the survival of some of the worlds most endangered wildlife species.   Continued