Cyprus' population of a rare species of seals is growing

The Republic of Cyprus has seen an increase in the population of one of the rarest marine mammals on the planet. Last season, two Mediterranean monk seal pups were born.

During the 2023 breeding season, from September to December, two more live births were recorded on the island. The Mediterranean Monk Seal Monitoring Group documented the last two births of pups in October and November in the Akrotiri and Akamas/Halabro areas. The pups were named Arkadia and Pieros.

However, one of the two pups, nicknamed "Arkadia," was found dead on Saturday in the Polis Chrysochous Bay. The cause of death is expected to be determined within a week after the autopsy. This species has the highest mortality rate in the first year of life.

Despite Arkadia not surviving, the birth of seals is considered an important event and demonstrates the effectiveness of seal conservation and management programs.

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is the rarest of the 33 seal species in the world, with about half of its current population of around 700 individuals inhabiting the seas around Greece.

A small number of them live around Cyprus, and according to the Department of Fisheries, in 2010, the registered population in the island's coastal waters numbered between seven and ten individuals. Currently, their population is around 22 individuals.

The most frequent observations have been recorded in the sea caves of Ayia Napa, Governor's Beach, Ayios Georgios Alaminou, Akrotiri, Peyia, and Akamas.