Under bright but overcast skies, Mediterranean monk seal pup ‘Artemis’ was released into the protected waters of the National Marine Park of Alonissos, Northern Sporades on 11 April. After a brief ceremony attended by local well wishers, visiting dignitaries and supporters of MOm — the NGO spearheading monk seal conservation in Greece — Artemis was placed in a transport cage and put aboard the research vessel IFAW-Odyssia, for the 2.5 hour journey to Piperi, an island in the core zone of the 2200 sq km Marine Park. The IFAW-Odyssia was escorted by the patrol boat of the Marine Park’s management authority.
Jeny Androukaki, Head of the Monk Seal Rehabilitation Centre at Steni Vala, Alonissos, later reported that Artemis quickly became acclimatized to her new surroundings. After briefly exploring the small beach where she was released from the transport cage, the seal was quickly drawn to the water and the small waves breaking on the shingle. She then began swimming and diving, displaying, said Androukaki, several darting movements suggesting that she was chasing fish.
Courtesy of the UK’s Sea Mammal Research Unit, Artemis was equipped with a mobile phone-based tracking device which is hoped will provide various data on the seal’s position and dive depths. A similar device, placed on monk seal pup Viktoria last year did not, however, function, and was deemed to have been faulty by the SMRU. MOm researchers are now anxiously awaiting the first tracking results from Artemis, expected today.
The release ceremony at Steni Vala was attended by Sophia Staikou, President of Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility. Piraeus Bank has been a long-time supporter of MOm’s monk seal conservation efforts in Greece through its CSR programme.