The first Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) birth of 2025 has been confirmed on the island of Karpathos, one of Greece’s key breeding sites for the critically endangered species, ekathimerini.com, has reported.
According to the Greek Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (OFYPEKA), the pup was born in a secluded sea cave. The birth is particularly notable as the newborn is male—the first in several years. In the past five years, only females had been recorded in the area.
Karpathos plays a vital role in sustaining the species’ fragile population, with six to eight pups usually born there annually. Monk seals, once widespread across the Mediterranean, are now one of the rarest marine mammals in the world, with only a few hundred individuals surviving.
The species typically gives birth between late August and December. Mothers raise their young in remote caves, where they nurse and shelter them until the pups are strong enough to swim and survive independently.
Experts stress that close monitoring and protection of these habitats are essential for safeguarding the future of monk seals. Preserving undisturbed coastal caves, limiting human activity, and mitigating threats such as pollution and overfishing are seen as critical steps to secure the species’ survival.
This latest birth in Karpathos adds hope to conservation efforts, marking a positive development in the ongoing struggle to protect one of the Mediterranean’s most endangered animals.
Source: ekathimerini.com
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