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Mammal Review ISSN 0305-1838

REVIEW

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus: status,
biology, threats, and conservation priorities

Alexandros A. KARAMANLIDIS* MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk
Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682, Athens, Greece. E-mail: akaramanlidis@gmail.com
Panagiotis DENDRINOS MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal,
Solomou Str. 18, 10682, Athens, Greece. E-mail: p.dendrinos@mom.gr
Pablo Fernández DE LARRINOA Fundación CBD Habitat, Gustavo Fernández Balbuena, 2, 28002,
Madrid, Spain. E-mail: pablo.fernandezdelarrinoa@cbd-habitat.com
Ali Cemal GÜCÜ Middle East Technical University, Institute of Marine Sciences, PK 28, 33731,
Erdemli, Icel, Turkey. E-mail: gucu@ims.metu.edu.tr
William M. JOHNSON The Monachus Guardian, c/o M. Schnellmann, Wernerstr. 26, CH-3006, Bern,
Switzerland. E-mail: editor@monachus-guardian.org
Cem O. KIRAÇ SAD – AFAG, Underwater Research Society – Mediterranean Seal Research Group,
Akıncılar Sok. 10/1, Maltepe, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail: afag@sad.org.tr
Rosa PIRES Parque Natural da Madeira, Quinta do Bom Sucesso, Caminho do Meio, 9064-512,
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. E-mail: rosapires.sra@gov-madeira.pt

Keywords ABSTRACT
conservation, endangered species, marine
mammals, Monachus monachus, Pinnipeds 1. The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is the most endangered seal
species. In this review we summarize the status, ecology, and behaviour of the
*Correspondence author. Mediterranean monk seal, and identify the main threats that currently affect the
species and the conservation priorities for securing its survival.
Submitted: 30 January 2015
2. Once abundant throughout the Black Sea and Mediterranean, as well as off the
Returned for revision: 13 May 2015
Atlantic coasts of northwestern Africa and Macaronesia, the Mediterranean monk
Revision accepted: 17 August 2015
Editor: KH seal has recently suffered dramatic declines, both in abundance and geographical
range. It is now estimated that fewer than 700 individuals survive in three or four
doi:10.1111/mam.12053 isolated subpopulations in the eastern and western Mediterranean, the archipelago
of Madeira and the Cabo Blanco area in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean.
3. Mediterranean monk seals are coastal marine mammals. When resting and
pupping on land, individuals generally seek refuge in inaccessible marine caves;
this behaviour is, in part, believed to be an adaptation to increased disturbance by
humans. Larger aggregations or colonies of the species can now be found only at
Cabo Blanco in the Atlantic Ocean and on the island of Gyaros in the eastern
Mediterranean.
4. The main threats to the survival of the Mediterranean monk seal are habitat
deterioration; deliberate killing, mainly by fishermen; and accidental entangle-
ment and drowning in fishing gear. Limited availability of food sources and sto-
chastic and unusual events have occasionally also contributed to Mediterranean
monk seal mortality.
5. Based on a common consensus among scientists and conservationists, the main
conservation priorities for the monk seal are: habitat protection; mitigating nega-
tive interactions between seals and fisheries; scientific research and monitoring of
local seal populations; education and public awareness campaigns; and rescue and
rehabilitation of wounded, sick, and orphaned seals.

Mammal Review (2015) © 2015 The Mammal Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1