Mediterranean Monk Seal on the coast of SigriBy Dalia Bastytė
A female seal living in the cave of Nissiopi does not experience a lot of love from local fishermen. Currently their attitude towards the seal could be called only tolerance. Only Michalis, a silversmith of Sigri, feels that the seal is like a queen of the coast. However, Mediterranean Monk Seals deserve a lot of sympathies around the world. Being one of the most endangered mammals of the world it attracts a lot of attention too.
Once upon a time Mediterranean Monk Seals were abundant in the Mediterranean, Marmora and Black seas. The species also frequented the Atlantic coast of Africa. The seals were swimming in these unpolluted and by ship traffic undisturbed seas, catching fish and cephalopods which were not over fished by humans and breeding on the sandy beaches which were not overcrowded yet. The seals were protected by Poseidon and Apollo because of their great love for sea and sun, sailors and fishermen were considering the seals as a good omen, moreover, the head of the seal was engraved on one of the first ever coins (around 500 BC).
It was some time ago. Already during Roman era monk seals were either dramatically reduced or extirpated by intensive exploitation. Furthermore, from the sandy beaches which these social animals had inhabited they were maid to hide in the inaccessible caves. The population was fragmented. Their habitats were deteriorated and food resources were caught by humans. The species was described as „rare“ by science in 1779, however, the seals were still collected for zoos and museums until early 20th century when wide range extinctions became apparent.
Now there are less than 500 animals of this species in the world left. They are highly protected by international organisations. They also are protected by the legislation of the countries they inhabit. A lot of efforts, mainly by international organisations, are put to increase the number of these beautiful animals and to revive the species. As the ecologists of Zakynthos say “The seals have a prestigious history but let's hope that soon the species is not history too.”[1]
One of these interesting, however, very rare and sensitive animals lives on the coast of Sigri. This seal hides in a cave of a small and remote island of Nissiopi which is right in front of the Sigri harbour. As Aristotle described there used to be a lot of seals in Lesbos. Now there are just few. Most probably a lot of them were sun basking on the beaches around Sigri in the times of Aristotle. However, now the female seal is alone. And she does not come on the beach anymore.
Nevertheless the need to hide from people and disrupted social structure of its herd, the seal lives its life. It distinguishes the local ships and appears in the sight of people when it wants. As Michalis, a silversmith of Sigri, noticed: the seal emerges by his boat when he is alone. Michalis is sure, that the seal recognises him. The freedom of the seal gives the impression that she is like the queen of the sea.
[1] http://www.e-zakynthos.com/ecology/zante.zakynthos.monachus.monachus.seal.php
