Baby Monk Seal Rescued Off the Coast of Cyprus

A 10-day-old Mediterranean monk seal pup (Monachus monachus), one of the rarest marine mammals in Europe, has been rescued off the coast of Cyprus.

According to the Republic of Cyprus Ministry of Agriculture, the rescue was initiated after the body of an adult monk seal was discovered near the shores of Famagusta. An autopsy revealed that the seal had died due to complications during childbirth.

Following the discovery, the Mediterranean Monk Seal Monitoring Team, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries, was promptly mobilized to locate the newborn.

On Thursday, the pup was found by rescuers in a rocky coastal area. It was immediately transported to the Cyprus Marine Aquaculture Research Center in Meneou for treatment and care.

The pup was named Panayi in honor of the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, which coincided with the day of its discovery.

Shortly after, Panayi was airlifted to Greece thanks to the support of a Greek air transport company. The seal pup was handed over to the Organization for the Study and Protection of the Mediterranean Monk Seal at the Attica Zoological Park. Preliminary medical examinations have been positive, and the pup will remain under close observation. If its condition continues to improve, it will stay at the care center for at least four to five months before being released back into the waters around Cyprus.

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is considered Europe’s rarest marine mammal, with an estimated global population of just 700 individuals. It is believed that 20–22 seals currently inhabit the waters surrounding Cyprus.