New sighting of the Mediterranean monk seal in Lebanon
A monk seal was observed in Dbayeh, Mount Lebanon, last April.
While the sightings of this rare species are punctual, prospecting and regular monitoring are necessary to better understand the occurrence of the species and to protect it.
After being considered as “Critically Endangered” for the previous 19 years, the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) was listed to “Endangered”, according to the IUCN Red List. Although the population is getting better in the Mediterranean, the monk seal remains a relatively rare species, and difficult to observe except along certain Greek and Turkish areas.