The population of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) has been recovering in recent years, with births occurring almost annually. However, according to Haris Nicolaou, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and coordinator of the monk seal monitoring programme in Cyprus, vigilance remains crucial. Currently, it is estimated that there are 20 to 22 seals in Cyprus.
In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Nicolaou emphasised the importance of not becoming complacent due to the small population and numerous threats. He urged the public to admire seals from a distance and avoid disturbing them, particularly by entering caves where seals rest or breed.
For the past 14 years, the programme has seen nearly annual births, with two to three newborns recorded each year across different regions, including Akamas, Cape Greco, and Ayia Napa.
The programme maintains a comprehensive database tracking information along the coastline, collecting data from fishermen and the public. Nicolaou noted that they can observe the seals’ movements throughout Cyprus’s marine areas. Since 2011, the monitoring programme has mapped all caves used by seals for resting and breeding, utilising monitoring systems and cameras to gather precise data on individual seals.
Each seal is tracked closely, with names assigned for easier identification. For example, one named Ariadne is monitored to ascertain when she enters her cave in Peyia. This detailed tracking allows researchers to understand seal movements, breeding patterns, and disturbances within their habitats. Seals require land for resting and breeding, often utilising protected caves along the beach to nurse their young.
Focusing on production in Paphos, Nicolaou described the presence of seals starting from the northern Akamas, extending to various caves, including those near Yeronissos and Peyia. Recently, there were two newborn seals reported between November and December 2024, one male and one female. In one case, the mother died during birth, leading to a rescue operation for the exhausted pup, which was subsequently sent to Greece for care and is expected to return to Cyprus to be released in the Paphos waters.
The current seal population hovers around 20 to 22, though some remain unaccounted for in the Turkish occupied areas of the island, complicating precise counts. Both threats from fishing gear and mortalities among juvenile seals hinder population growth. Still, sightings have improved compared to previous decades.
“The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus, which is one of the rarest seal species in the world and also the rarest marine mammal in Europe and certainly in Cyprus, has been making a comeback in recent years”, he stated.
“The programmes that have been implemented and the sensitivity shown by various agencies have led to remarkable results,” he noted.
Strict protections have been implemented around seal caves, including bans on fishing and boat passage, preserving these critical habitats from development and ensuring the monk seal’s continued recovery in Cyprus.
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Source: CNA
