Young seal shot in Greece

Killings reaching ‘epidemic proportions’

A young Mediterranean monk seal remains in critical condition after being shot on the Aegean island of Evia, Greece.

The incident follows a spate of reported monk seal killings in Greece.

Greek monk seal protection NGO MOm dispatched a rescue team to the site after receiving an alert from the Port Police Authority on 27 April.

Estimated at 4 months of age, the male weaned pup was found stranded on the secluded beach of Madoudi in northern Evia. Initial examination on site revealed that it had suffered severe trauma, the bullet entering one side of the head and cutting through the animal’s nasal cavity, before exiting on the other.

Following emergency first aid, the pup was transferred to the Veterinary School of the University of Thessalonica, for further examination and treatment by Professor Natassa Komninou and MOm personnel.

X-rays confirmed that ‘Markos’ — as the pup was subsequently named by MOm — suffered a bullet wound to the head, resulting in the loss of his right eye and a serious fracture to his upper jaw.

Despite the critical nature of the trauma, both Prof. Komninou and MOm expressed the hope that the otherwise healthy pup might still pull through and survive.

On 29 May, Markos was transferred to MOm’s Rehabilitation Centre on the island of Alonissos for further care and treatment.

The killing of monk seals in Greece, claims MOm, is reaching “epidemic proportions”. Since January there have been 11 cases of animals found dead, four of which yielded conclusive evidence of deliberate killing.

Facing dwindling fish stocks, and fierce competition from commercially intensive fisheries, coastal fishermen have long considered the monk seal a pest that ‘steals’ their catch and damages their nets.

Last year, MOm concluded a 3-year EU-funded research programme aimed at bringing about practical solutions to reducing monk seal-fisheries interactions. Although its recommendations were submitted to the relevant ministries it reports, “unfortunately up to date no significant progress has been made.”

For further information: www.mom.gr