In an announcement dated 18 February, Greek monk seal NGO MOm announced that a young seal found stranded on the Aegean island of Kythira had been transferred to its rehabilitation unit at Steni Vala, Alonnisos, in the Northern Sporades.
MOm reports that the pup was initially seen hauled up on Feloti beach, Kythira, by a local resident on 7 February. A week later, on 13 February, it received another alert, this time by a Kythira veterinarian, who reported that the animal appeared in distress, the photographic evidence and information provided leading MOm to speculate that the animal had remained stranded for the entire week. First aid instructions were communicated by phone. The young seal, however, failed to show any visible signs of improvement after a further two days, was visibly weak, and failed to react to human presence.
A video released by Turkish NGO SAD-AFAG illustrates how a pair of recently orphaned Mediterranean monk seal pups, undergoing rehabilitation in Foça, Turkey, have been introduced to an innovative bowl-feeding method (in place of the customary and more invasive force-feeding technique). Courtesy: SAD-AFAG.
Rehabilitation breaks new ground in feeding methods
Two orphaned Mediterranean monk seal pups are being treated at a rehabilitation facility in Foça, Turkey, according to a press release issued by Turkish NGO SAD-AFAG.
The female pups were discovered in separate regions both on the 18 December 2010: the Bozyazı region, Mersin, and the Kas region, Antalya, both along Turkey’s Mediterranean coastline. It is thought that a heavy storm might have been responsible for separating the pups from their mothers.
Alerted to the discovery of the pups by the Coast Guard and Gendarmerie, SAD-AFAG dispatched a rescue team led by veterinarian Avni Gök to both sites, where Oral Rehydration Therapy and other first aid was administered. The pups were then transported to the “Foca Monk Seal Rehab Unit” on 19 December.
The pups, reports SAD-AFAG, have so far responded well to treatment. In a potentially important development — and in a break from standard procedure — initial force-feeding was substituted by offering the pups weighed quantities of minced fish porridge in open cups.
“Both seals,” says SAD-AFAG’s Cem Orkun Kıraç, “have fully been managing to ‘drink’ the fish porridge from the cups, ingesting the whole food slowly but without any problem since the 26th and 31st December 2010.”
He goes on: “Since these dates, no force feeding has been applied to either pup at all. The seals have gained weight since their arrival, and have already started to chase live fish and octopus in their pool in the rehab unit. It is expected that the pups may start live fish catching and eating soon.”
Orphaned Mediterranean monk seal Badem, released from summer captivity in November by her carers, SAD-AFAG, was soon sighted around the Datça Peninsula, according to various Turkish press reports. Although SAD-AFAG has stressed, and stressed again, the importance of avoiding contact with the rescued seal in order to help Badem lose her attachment to humans, curious onlookers continue to disturb and harass the animal.
In the latest case, police intervened to cordon off a boat on which Badem was resting, so that she could catch a few hours’ sleep.
Media Watch, Honolulu Star Bulletin, 11 November 2010
Question: Whatever happened to KP2, the nearly blind Hawaiian monk seal that was moved from Molokai by federal marine officials after becoming too familiar with humans?
Answer: The monk seal KP2 was taken to the Waikiki Aquarium in October 2009 and stayed there for a couple of months before being flown to a marine mammal research facility at the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Orphaned monk seal pup ‘Lazarus’, rescued during stormy weather off the Aegean island of Evia earlier this month, has died during rehabilitation, Greek NGO MOm has announced.
Despite intensive care at the organisation’s rehabilitation unit on Alonnisos, the pup did not respond to treatment. As has been the case with other exceptionally young monk seals brought into rehabilitation at the MOm unit, Lazarus (estimated to be around 10 days old when found) continued to lose weight despite regular, round-the-clock feedings.
Body temperature and glucose levels also remained unstable.
The pup, reports MOm, died on Monday 25 October, following a seizure. A necropsy will be performed in Athens in an effort to determine the precise cause of death.
MOm has appealed to the public to join efforts to save the critically-endangered Mediterranean monk seal, its survival threatened by habitat destruction, direct killing and overfishing.
Greek monk seal research and protection NGO MOm, announced today that it had rescued an orphaned Mediterranean monk seal pup on the Aegean island of Evia on 8 October 2010.
The pup had been observed struggling in stormy seas and strong winds of 8 Beaufort before emerging onto Pili beach on Evia’s northern coast. Residents contacted the Port Police, who in turn alerted MOm, setting the rescue in operation.
According to MOm’s Rescue Coordinator, Marianna Psaradellis, the male pup, who has been named “Lazarus”, is approximately 10 days old, and is presumed to have been separated from its mother by the storm. Initial diagnosis on site found Lazarus to be suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and exhaustion.
The swim across the Maui Channel to raise funds for a dedicated rehabilitation unit for the critically-endangered Hawaiian monk seal has raised $18,130, according to Cheryl Reiss of the Marine Mammal Center.
The all-female team of six from the Center joined 52 other teams and 20 solo swimmers from around the world in a daring crossing of the Au Au channel, the MMC reported in a post-race statement. The channel is well known for dangers to swimmers such as swift currents, tiger sharks, and the Portuguese Man O’ War.
In an announcement dated 18 February, Greek monk seal NGO MOm announced that a young seal found stranded on the Aegean island of Kythira had been transferred to its rehabilitation unit at Steni Vala, Alonnisos, in the Northern Sporades.
Two orphaned Mediterranean monk seal pups are being treated at a rehabilitation facility in Foça, Turkey, according to a press release issued by Turkish NGO 
“Both seals,” says SAD-AFAG’s Cem Orkun Kıraç, “have fully been managing to ‘drink’ the fish porridge from the cups, ingesting the whole food slowly but without any problem since the 26th and 31st December 2010.”
Question: Whatever happened to KP2, the nearly blind Hawaiian monk seal that was moved from Molokai by federal marine officials after becoming too familiar with humans?
Orphaned monk seal pup ‘Lazarus’, rescued during stormy weather off the Aegean island of Evia earlier this month, has died during rehabilitation, Greek NGO 
Greek monk seal research and protection NGO 
