ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Panagis hauls himself out of the pool at a rehabilitation heart in Greece and scurries over for a tasty lunch: complete mackerel. It’s been about three months because the orphaned seal pup was discovered struggling within the coastal waters of Cyprus. Quickly, he’ll be properly sufficient to go dwelling.
Panagis is considered one of dozens of Mediterranean monk seals, or Monachus monachus, which were nursed again to well being by Greece’s MOm, a charity devoted to the care and safety of the uncommon marine mammal whose inhabitants had dwindled so dramatically that at one level it confronted extinction.
Due to conservation efforts, the seals with the massive, spherical eyes and distinguished whiskers at the moment are making a exceptional comeback. Practically half of their estimated world inhabitants of 800 dwell in Greek waters, the place the intensive shoreline presents an abundance of sea caves that present shelter for females to rear their younger.
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From close to extinction to restoration
Modern and remarkably quick within the water, the monk seal is a skillful hunter and might eat as much as 3 kilograms (6 kilos) of fish, octopus and squid a day. However it’s not averse to a prepared meal, and might rip by means of fishing nets to steal fish — which led fishermen to view them as pests.
For many years, they had been hunted, contributing to a serious inhabitants decline between the Nineteen Sixties and Eighties that led the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, to checklist them as critically endangered.
When conservation efforts started within the Eighties, mixed with outreach applications to coach the general public — and fishermen — “society progressively started to vary … and the inhabitants started to recuperate,” mentioned Panagiotis Dendrinos.
Dendrinos, a marine biologist and coordinator of the Hellenic Society for the Examine and Safety of the Monk Seal — or MOm — that has pioneered the Monachus monachus conservation program, says the monk seal is the one seal species within the Mediterranean Sea and in addition “one of many rarest species of seal and marine mammal on the earth.”
“To guard an animal just like the Mediterranean monk seal in its pure atmosphere, you basically have to guard the whole marine ecosystem,” he mentioned.
Conservation efforts have paid off, and in recent times, the species climbed down a notch on the IUCN’s Crimson Listing of threatened species to “endangered.” A couple of 12 months in the past improved one step additional, to “susceptible.”
A singular seal rehab
Often contacted by members of the general public who discover an animal in misery, MOm specialists are inclined to grownup seals on location the place doable, and transport younger seals to the group’s rehabilitation heart housed within the grounds of Athens zoo, on the outskirts of the Greek capital.
There, the younger mammals are sorted by veterinarians, fed a particular eating regimen to supply them with the most effective vitamin and hone their swimming abilities in a pool.
Their carers give them names — typically after the individuals who discovered them — however make sure that contact with people is saved to a minimal to organize the animals for his or her return into the wild.
The younger seals usually keep within the rehab heart for a number of months, till they’ve placed on sufficient weight and their pure looking intuition kicks in, permitting them to fend for themselves. They’re then tagged to allow them to be tracked, and re-introduced into the wild.
MOm, the one heart of its variety within the area, has cared for about 40 seals from far and broad, each on location and in its services, Dendrinos mentioned.
“This 12 months, we had a very nice shock,” he mentioned. A feminine seal that had been handled and launched 4 years in the past was noticed nursing a pup.
Planes, boats and automobiles to the rescue
Panagis was present in Cyprus, close to the place the physique of his mom had been discovered just a few days earlier. Alerted by locals, the group organized for the seal to be flown to Athens.
“Transportation is carried out with no matter is offered,” mentioned veterinary assistant Nikitas Vogiatzis, shortly after feeding Panagis. “Both by aircraft, or by boat, and even by taxi. “Konstantina got here in a taxi, Panagis by aircraft, Renos got here on a ship,” he mentioned, itemizing MOm’s most up-to-date wards.
Weighing just below 15 kilograms (33 kilos) when he arrived, the now 3-month-old seal has reached over 40 kilograms (88 kilos). Panagis is almost prepared for his return journey dwelling, which MOm consultants hope will occur in Could.
Again into the wild
Renos — brief for Renos-Pantelis — was present in November within the small Aegean island of Anafi by a nurse and a navy conscript whom he was named after.
The seal pup was shipped to MOm’s facility. He obtained medical therapy and was placed on a particular eating regimen till he was sufficiently old to maneuver on to stable fish — the mackerel that Panagis is so keen on.
He recovered and on a chilly, sunny February day, it was his flip to move again into the wild. MOm personnel loaded him right into a crate and whisked him by speedboat to the uninhabited islet of Gyaros, the closest marine protected space to Athens.
The discharge location is chosen “primarily based on there being sufficient meals, and there being no disturbance by folks, which is essential,” mentioned Vogiatzis, the veterinary assistant.
The crate is positioned close to the water, he mentioned. Then, “you open the door, you say a prayer and also you say: ‘So lengthy’.”
Renos’ crate was deposited on a seaside and the door opened. The younger seal sniffed the air timidly, and waited. Slowly, he inched his approach out of the crate, then picked up velocity as he belly-hauled his approach down the seaside, splashed into the ocean and was gone.
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Related Press photographer Thanassis Stavrakis in Gyaros, Greece, contributed to this report.
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