monachus guardian monk seal

Dedicated to Monk Seals and their Threatened Habitats

PRESS RELEASE


SAD-AFAG

MOm, HELLENIC SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF THE MONK SEAL
18 Solomou Str. GR-10682 Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30-210-5222888, Fax: +30-210-5222450
e-mail: info@mom.gr, website:www.mom.gr


18 December 2008

Orphaned seal rescued in Greece



An orphaned Mediterranean monk seal was found struggling for her life on December the 10th 2008, at a remote Greek island. Dehydrated, tired and wounded on the head and flippers the female seal was spotted at a beach of Leros Island. The local port police authorities were immediately notified and under MOm’s guidance had to relocate the baby seal to a safe place as the mother was no where to be seen.

The 10 days old monk seal, received First Aid upon MOm’s arrival the next day and was urgently transported to the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre of the organization at the Island of Alonissos. As soon as the treatment against dehydration is completed, the orphaned pup will start receiving fish paste.

The rescue and treatment of the female pup follows international treatment protocols and is carried out by specially trained biologists, in the framework of the EU funded project “MOFI” on the interaction between monk seals and fisheries in Greece.

Once more, Piraeus Bank stood by MOm’s side by supporting the rescue of the orphaned seal, in the framework of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme. For the past 15 years Piraeus Bank has been actively supporting the rescue and treatment of sick or orphaned Monachus monachus pups, a species that is critically endangered and finds shelter mostly in Greek waters.

MOm would like to thank the port police authorities of the Island of Leros and the organization’s local member for their important contribution in the pup’s rescue efforts.

 


The MOFI project aims at reducing the negative interaction between monk seals and fisheries in Greece. The EU funded LIFE-NATURE project is implemented with the financial support of the Prefecture of Magnesia, Piraeus Bank and IFAW. For more information, go to www.mofi.gr.

© MOm, monachus-guardian.org. All Rights Reserved