Monk Seal Bibliography

Re. Freedom of Information

The desire for easier and faster access to information concerning the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (in the form of scientific articles, newsletters, books etc.) has been expressed lately by various members of the monk seal conservation community (see Letters to the Editor, Monachus Guardian 2:1 1999). This desire, coupled with the growing number of organizations and scientists working on the conservation of the monk seal, and the numerous new publications focusing on the species, has inspired us to launch an effort to compile a comparative monk seal bibliography.

Extending the previous work of Ronald et al. in 1978, 1983 and 1991 (see references, below), this new bibliography will not only attempt to fill in the gaps since the last edition, but also incorporate lesser known publications not included in previous bibliographies. It is also intended that a list of key words will accompany each reference, enabling users to search for specific topics in the bibliography. The bibliography will initially be published on the Internet, allowing rapid access, effective searching and timely editorial updates.

During the course of compiling the bibliography, we would like to cooperate with monk seal specialists internationally. Hopefully, these experts can be persuaded to share their knowledge of monk seal literature, particularly the literature published in their own respective countries. In this respect, we would like to congratulate the Turkish Scientific League for the Monk Seal for their initiative in preparing a bibliography of literature authored by Turkish scientists. We hope that other organisations and individuals will follow this lead, thereby helping to create a comprehensive information source that might aid scientific knowledge and conservation.

The coordinator,

Alexandros Karamanlidis,
Kerassountos 9, GR-55131 Kalamaria Thessaloniki, Greece. Email: karazar@vet.auth.gr

References

Ronald, K., L.M. Hanly, P.J. Healey and L.J. Selley. 1976. An annotated bibliography on the Pinnipedia. ICES, Copenhagen. 785p.

Ronald, K., P.J. Healey, J. Dougan, L.J. Selley, and L. Dunn. 1983. An annotated bibliography on the Pinnipedia. Supplement 1. ICES, Copenhagen. 346p.

Ronald, K., B.L. Gots, J.D. Lupson, C.J. Willings, and J.L. Dougan. 1991. An Annotated Bibliography of Seals, Sea lions, and walrus. ICES, Copenhagen.

Editor’s note: Readers of this ongoing debate over access to information might also recall the suggestion of an earlier correspondent (Freedom of Information) that monachus.org or IMMA Inc. establish an online forum to stimulate open debate on all matters relating to monk seals, their habitats and their conservation. We are pleased to announce that IMMA Inc. is currently investigating the possibility of setting-up an automated discussion page of this kind. The question is: will people use it? Might there be other, more fundamental factors limiting free and open debate than the lack of convenient technology? As always, we look forward to hearing your views: editor@monachus.org.

Starving Seals at French Frigates

Re. Native Hawaiians Speak Out

Aloha Monachus Guardian,

You have a very informative site with much to share. I too am trying to bring attention to the most endangered pinniped in the nation. It is difficult to understand how the starvation can be allowed to continue for the benefit of so few. My name is Isaac Harp and I was the chairman of the Native advisory panel to the western pacific regional fishery management council. You may have noticed that I did not capitalize the name of the council; they don’t deserve it!

I’ve tried to get some sanity adopted by the council and nmfs over the past few years, but it’s a waste of time. Commerce is the only driving force at work and unless the management scheme changes, I believe they’re prepared to swallow a Northern Right Whale to address the problem they’re perpetuating. I’ve recently become an associate of EnviroWatch Inc., as Director of Indigenous Affairs.

Isaac D. Harp

Director, Indigenous Affairs, EnviroWatch Inc. Hawaii
www.enviroWatch.org 

Caribbean X-Files

This is from Mexico. Maybe this is not the correct address to write to, but some friends told me that recently some (eight) Caribbean monk seals were seen near Belize and, in fact, some US environmental agency took care of them. Do you know anything about this?

Gerardo Ochoa, Mexico.

Editor’s reply: Occasional, unconfirmed sightings of the Caribbean monk seal tend to prolong the hope that Monachus tropicalis is not extinct (Has Anyone Seen a Caribbean Monk Seal?). Despite surveys in recent years, there is no evidence to suggest that any scientist or government agency has located survivors of the species – even if extreme secrecy might be the most logical result of a sensitive discovery of this kind. If anyone knows more, please contact us at editor@monachus.org.

Healthy Circulation?

Is there any statistical information available on the numbers of people who read The Monachus Guardian? How many people are visiting per day? Which countries are showing the greatest interest?

Harun Güçlüsoy, Foça, Turkey.
SAD-AFAG Aegean Programme Office

Editor’s reply: According to statistics provided by our server, www.monachus.org is visited by between 55 and 115 people per day. The fluctuation usually ties in with publication dates of The Monachus Guardian, with numbers surging during the publishing months of May and November/December. Visitor numbers have been rising steadily since monachus.org was launched in May 1998 (when the first issue attracted 35 individuals per day). Visitors now come from all corners of the Earth and from as far afield as Mexico and Singapore, Poland and Japan. Statistically, the following countries bring the highest percentage of visitors: North America, U.K., Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Spain. (North American figures, however, can be misleading since countries of origin statistics are based on the domain name extensions *.com, *.net, *.org etc. In fact, many servers located outside North America also utilize these domain name extensions.) Of the numerous Internet search engines directing visitors to the site, the most predominant statistically are Yahoo, Alta Vista, Go, Netscape and MSN. Topping the list of other ‘referring’ sites are IMMA.org, AOL, CompuServe, Hawaii.edu and iridescent-publishing.com.

A Letter to Derya, a Monk Seal in Foça

My dear Derya*,

I can scarcely contain my delight. Before even asking how you are, I immediately want to get to the point. When you read my letter, I am sure you will also be very happy.

Now, get ready: I have such good news. You remember I told you about this "Volunteer Membership Program" in my last letter, and since then we have taken a big step forward. We started the program in June. I wish you could have seen our excitement. We were working like crazy trying to get the magazine advertisements ready, to inform the media. Newsletter preparations were underway. The brochures were ready, in their best colours, for distribution. On the cover of the brochure there smiled the beautiful photo of Emine. Do not get upset, your photo is in the newsletter, the photo which Cem took, on the pebble stones… You were a very loveable little pup.

From June on, nice, striking public notices were published in magazines which can easily find readers all over Turkey. Two radio stations having a great number of listeners broadcast our spots about our work and membership program. I joined a live radio program and talked about you. I have to say, I was very excited. Many thanks to their help and effort, we are getting a lot of calls. Almost everyday we are joined by at least one new member. I told you you shouldn’t be so pessimistic, there are still people caring about our lovely world’s future. We already have over 140 members and all of them are willing to help. Imagine if we could have 1000s of members. But these things take time, we have to be a little patient; Rome wasn’t built in a day.

The majority of the seal volunteers are from big cities. Wait, I’m supposed to have the numbers of members from each city; ah here they are: Ankara 45, Istanbul 39, Izmir 31, Mersin 6, Adana 6, Tekirdag 2, and Konya, Mugla, Kayseri, Bursa, Giresun and Aydin all joined our family with one member. We even have international members: 2 from Italy and Spain and 1 from Australia.

I have to ask you something; is it that people are more observant now, or is it that you show up more often? For the last few months, we have lots of observation records. We have eyes all over Turkey now with our members. And you be careful; there are paparazzi after you. Getting news about you, especially through our members, is making us very happy. It is also scientifically very important, every sighting record is taking its place in the "Fokdata" database in the computer. Sometimes, although it is extremely painful, there are friends of yours found dead on the coast. This year there were 5 deaths. Do you remember the terrible epidemic in Mauritania in 1997? We all hope that there won’t be anything like this here: your population is already so small.

Let’s talk about you a little. What are you up to, besides swimming all day and eating up those delicious fish? The weather is starting to get cold, how are the caves? On our side, except for the very intense work, nothing has changed. With the membership program we gave speed to our education and public awareness activities. With the help of this program, we can easily contact the people who are interested in the sea and marine life. You are a symbol now; a symbol of a clean, healthy Mediterranean. All the SAD-AFAG team – me and Cem in Ankara, Ali, Funda, Ahmet and Hasan in Mersin, Asuman, Harun, Yalçin and Serdar in Foça – are doing their best to make new members. Our aim is to build up a big and powerful family all over Turkey. With the help of this family we can protect you and your home, the Mediterranean. We are trying to form a wide network of communication. We started this by sending our members a newsletter including information about you every 4 months. We are also planning to organise educational seminars in the very near future.

As you can see, everything seems to be going well. We are getting very tired but it is worth it. With every person who calls us or comes to the office to be a member there appears a great bright hope for the future in the depths of our minds. And this hope is giving speed to our steps, power to our ideas.

You must also keep your hopes bright. Take care of yourself until next time.

With love

Yesim A. Öztürk, SAD/AFAG, Ankara, Turkey.

* Derya: A monk seal born after long conservation efforts in Foça. She is still using the same address.

Editor’s note: Readers wishing to support monk seal conservation efforts in Turkey, or to join the Mediterranean Seal Volunteers (see SAD-AFAG launches membership drive, this issue) should contact SAD/AFAG in Ankara.