THE RETURN OF THE MOST ENDANGERED SEAL ON EARTH
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is the most iconic species of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet also, it is one of the most endangered marine mammals on earth.
ABOUT US
Since 2017, the Adriatic Monk Seal Project has been working to protect the rare Mediterranean monk seal along the Adriatic coast. From the beginning, it has brought together NGOs from Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia: PPNEA, CZIP, and BIOM. MOm (Greece) was also part of the project from 2017 to 2024.
In 2024, the project shifted its focus fully to the Adriatic, welcoming new partners: Flag Pine (Albania), MedCEM (Montenegro), and Archipelagos (Italy). Together, these organizations monitor and protect the monk seal, which has recently started to return to the eastern Adriatic and its habitat.
The project is managed by the EuroNatur Foundation and supported financially by the Monk Seal Alliance (MSA).
The PROJECT
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is the most iconic species of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet also, it is one of the most endangered marine mammals on earth. According to the IUCN Red List (2023) it is considered as “Vulnerable”. Persecution throughout the centuries has led to its disappearance from the biggest part of its range. The pupping and resting habitat (i.e. marine caves) is threatened by human activities such as tourism development and urbanization, resulting in habitat deterioration, destruction and fragmentation.
The SPECIES
Monk seals are part of the mammalian group of carnivores named Pinnipedia, which includes all the species of seals, sea lions and walrus. The first seals appeared on the face of the earth approximately 20 million years ago. But, before evolving into top marine predators, the ancestors of seals used to live on land and were carnivores. Seals are therefore considered to be closely related to some terrestrial carnivores, such as bears! As indicated by the name Pinnipedia, these animals have flippers instead of legs which are well adapted to the needs of their aquatic life.
The PROJECT PARTNERS
