The Mediterranean Monk Seal: One of the Most Endangered Mammals of the World
The Mediterranean Monk Seal is believed to be in danger of extinction: less than 500 individuals are reported. In the past, it was found all over the Mediterranean Sea and in a broad geographical area, nowadays, it has been seen only in a few parts of the Mediterranean Sea. Several causes have provoked a dramatic population decrease: coastal urbanization and pollution, deliberate killing by fishermen, stochastic events and low survival rate. Several organizations have done efforts for its preservation in several countries.
The Mediterranean Monk Seal is a pinniped belonging to the Phocidae family. It is one out of the 19 different seals present all over the world. Its Latin name is Monachus monachus.
This mammal is believed to be in danger of extinction, less than 500 individuals are reported.
image source: http://www.chios-echo.gr/Default.aspx?tabid=98&language=en-US
Description
Monk seals have a short broad and flat snout, long nostrils that face upward and relatively short flippers, with small slender claws. Differences are reported between male and female. The former is 2.4m long with a black fur and is believed to weigh 300 kg! The latter is smaller and generally brown or grey. Instead, pups newly-born measure 88-103 cm in length, weigh 15-20kg and their fur is black.
image source: http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2008/6/15/Hawaiian_monk_seal_state_mammal
Distribution
Nowadays, it has been seen in parts of the Mediterranean Sea, in particular in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean around the Tropic of Cancer, Greece, Turkey, Morocco and Sardinian Island, located in Italy. However, in the past, it was found all over the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea in a broad geographical area.
image source: http://www.monachus-guardian.org/factfiles/medit01.htm
Threats
Because of the seals’ shy nature and sensitivity to human disturbance, they have slowly adapted to try avoid contact with humans. In the past centuries, several causes have provoked a dramatic population decrease.
1. Habitat deterioration for coastal urbanisation and pollution. Habitat of the seal has changed over the years. Scientists have confirmed that, in ancient times, Mediterranean Monk Seals have been known to refuge on open beaches, currently, they only use sea caves that are rather inaccessible to humans. The coastal caves are, however, dangerous for newborns, and are major mortality cause among pups.
2. Deliberate killing by fishermen. The Mediterranean Monk Seals feed on a variety of fish and molluscs, primarily octopus and squid, up to 3kg per day. Fishermen used to consider it a pest due to the damage caused to fishing nets after catching fish in those.
3. Stochastic events. In Capo Blanco, in the Atlantic Ocean, there is the largest surviving single population of these mammals, the only remaining site which still seems to preserve a colony structure. In the summer of 1997, two thirds of its seal population were wiped out within two months. The most likely cause being a morbilivirus or, more likely, a toxic algae bloom.
4. Commercial hunting. It was made especially during the Roman Empire and Middle Ages.
5. Survival rate of pups. Pup survival average is just under 50% in their first two months, from 29% (September to January) to 71% (the rest of the year).
Preservation
Since the 1970s, foundations, civic organizations and universities have done efforts for Mediterranean Monk seal preservation in several countries.
For the past 10 years, many groups have carried out missions to educate locals on damage control and species preservation. For these intention, several organisations have been founded: the Greek Mom http://mofi.mom.gr/uk/, the NATURA 2000 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/, the Mediterranean Seal Research Group http://www.sadafag.org/english/, the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre http://www.zeehondencreche.nl/home/home_e.htm, etc.
These organizations have the main purpose of protection of the Mediterranean monk seal.
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20 Responses to “The Mediterranean Monk Seal: One of the Most Endangered Mammals of the World”
On July 2, 2009 at 4:22 pm
your article is very interesting! l hope that we\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’ll see a lot of mediterranean seals in the future…
Paul
On July 2, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Isle of Sardinia is a good place to see mediterranean seal
On July 3, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I think It could be wonderful if we\’ll see the M. monk seals in all Mediterrenean area! Ann
On July 5, 2009 at 11:43 am
Much interesting!
I think that you should insert a specific article about sardinian habitat of mediterranean seal.
On July 8, 2009 at 6:30 am
I like your articles about animals!!
On July 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm
I love your article about the monk seal!!!
On July 9, 2009 at 9:45 am
Very good topic, I think peolple should write more about!
On July 10, 2009 at 7:06 am
very interesting article
On July 12, 2009 at 5:27 am
great article
On July 12, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I think there is too much pollution in the world!
On July 12, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Goo work!
On July 12, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Hi you know…………..
On July 12, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Good article
On July 13, 2009 at 3:28 pm
good information on one of many endangered animals that people are often not aware of. Thanks for passing this on to me.
On July 14, 2009 at 2:51 pm
thanks everybody for the nice comments
On July 15, 2009 at 8:47 am
great piece
On August 4, 2009 at 6:10 pm
interesting!
On August 28, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Very interesting article! thanks for sharing!
On August 29, 2009 at 9:57 pm
It’s terrible how mankind just ignores the travesty’s committed to our mother earth, other mammals and species. Eventually so many different animals, sea creatures, mammals will become extinct, It will effect the natural order of our eco-system and we will all suffer that consequence. Who knows….one day mankind will be extinct and the earth may become a more thriving existence. Technology and Religion has already pushed us in that direction by all the wars and injustices perpetrated by mankind. They say ignorance is bliss. It also wreakes of death.
On November 14, 2009 at 7:42 am
yay i mite be able to do my geog assesment wiv this
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