A 10-day old seal, one of the rarest animals in Europe, was rescued off the coast of Cyprus, the ministry of agriculture announced on Sunday.
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) pup was rescued on Monday after a dead adult was found in the sea off Famagusta.
An autopsy showed the death was the result of the complications of childbirth.
The Mediterranean monk seal monitoring team in Cyprus – officials from the agriculture ministry and the department of fisheries – was then immediately mobilised to find the pup.
With the help of lifeguards, it was located on Thursday in a rocky coastal area and transferred to the Cyprus Marine Aquaculture Research Centre in Meneou for care.
The little seal was named Panayis as it was found on the feast day of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary.
Under the instructions of Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou, and to ensure its survival, Panayis was airlifted to Greece.
The transfer of the baby seal was made possible thanks to a Greek air transport company.
The newborn was handed over to the Organisation for the Study and Protection of the Mediterranean Monk Seal, whose care centre operates in the Attica Zoological Park.
Panayis has been in the hands of specialists since Friday night, with his first medical examinations being encouraging. The newborn will be closely monitored to avoid complications, as a lack of maternal care increases the risks.
If all goes well, the animal will remain in the care center for at least four to five months to prepare for its reintegration into the natural environment, the Cypriot seas.
The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is the rarest marine mammal in Europe with a global population estimated at 700 individuals, The Cyprus seas are thought to account for 20-22 individuals.
The ministry implements extensive conservation actions to protect the species.
