Newborn Mediterranean Monk Seal Rescued in Coordinated Operation
A 10-day-old Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) was rescued in a coordinated effort by Greek Cypriot and Greek authorities and later transferred to a rehabilitation center operating within the Attica Zoological Park in Athens.
According to Politis, the operation followed the discovery of a dead adult monk seal on November 18, 2024, in the Famagusta coastal area. An autopsy revealed that the seal had died due to complications during childbirth.
Subsequently, the Mediterranean Monk Seal Monitoring Unit in the south mobilized to locate the newborn seal, which was found on November 21 along a rocky coastline. The pup, named “Panayis,” was transported to the Fisheries and Marine Research Unit’s center in Meneou before being flown to Greece under the directives of Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou to ensure its survival.
This marks the first transport operation of its kind for the species in the region. Initial assessments at the rehabilitation center, where the seal has been receiving care since last Friday, were described as encouraging. If progress continues as expected, Panayis is anticipated to remain under care for 4-5 months before being released back into its natural habitat along Cyprus' shores.
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