A young female monk seal has been shot and killed on the Aegean island of Evia, reports Greek NGO MOm. An onsite necropsy by the organisation’s rescue team indicated that the still nursing pup had been in good nutritional health before being shot in the head with a hunting rifle by “person or persons unknown” on 16 February.
The killing comes 10 months after the shooting of a male pup in the same area. “Markos“, who suffered horrific head wounds as a result of the attack on 27 April 2010, quickly succumbed to its injuries despite intensive care at MOm’s seal rescue unit on Alonnisos.
MOm describes northern Evia as having a negative track record where the killing of monk seals is concerned, and claims to have registered 6 deliberate kills in the area (its press release does not indicate in what time frame).
The killing, injury or disturbance of this critically endangered species, is prohibited under both domestic and international law, though enforcement, coupled with measures to assist the troubled coastal fisheries sector remain largely non-existent.
Source: Κι άλλη πυροβολημένη μεσογειακή φώκια στη Βόρεια Εύβοια / Another monk seal shot in northern Evia, MOm, 22 February 2011
Kirefs 34004, Greece
When will this violence end. Is the government of Greece doing anything to stop these killings.