Alonissos Marine Park records two new Mediterranean monk seal pups

Two newborn Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) have been recorded in the Alonissos–Northern Sporades National Marine Park. This follows the sighting of the season's first pup in late September on a beach on the islet of Piperi.

Scientists are monitoring the ongoing reproductive period with high interest, following a record year in 2025 when 21 newborns were documented, significantly exceeding the 37-year annual average. Monitoring efforts involve the use of cameras installed in breeding shelters to analyze photographic material for population estimates.

Researchers noted that the seals have recently begun giving birth and nursing on open beaches rather than in caves, a behavior observed on Piperi last year. Experts interpret this shift as a sign that the animals feel secure within the core of the National Park. Approximately half of the global Mediterranean monk seal population resides in Greece, making the country's conservation efforts vital for the species' survival.