Mediterranean Monk Seal Essay

The purpose of this paper is to find out, if there are any possibilities for conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal. The seal is one of the world's rarest mammals, it is on the list of the 20 most endangered species and needs public attention. The research will focus on the conservation process in Turkey. Introduction Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) were spreading all over the coasts of the Mediterranean basin including the Black Sea, and the eastern Atlantic coasts from Portugal to Senegal in the west Africa until the beginning of 20th century representing a population of thousands. However, this rare marine mammal declined very fast in its distribution range mainly because of hunting and killing. By the end of 20th
East Mediterranean populations live very scattered and they rarely gather together. The researchers in Türkiye sometimes observe 2-4 seals wandering together and hardly ever this number increases to 7-8 seals. Like many of their characteristic feature, there isn’t much information about their behavior. There are some assumptions that, time to time, Mediterranean monk seals come together and spread out again. Adult males sometimes keep a territory and continue to live in a selected local territory. Females are more wanderer than the males and in breeding periods, they don’t abandon the breeding cave and vicinity. Young monk seals can reach far regions in a couple of months. It is supposed that female Mediterranean monk seals take very long ways so as to mate with males and then they leave territory of males after mating. Copulation occurs in the sea. It is supposed that female seals reach the sexual maturity approximatelly at the age of 3 years. After the period of 11 months of pregnancy, the female Mediterranean monk seals give birth a pup every year or two years. Therefore, breeding rate of Mediterranean monk seals is low and combined with threat factors, population remains low. Birth takes place along inhabited coasts and at the end of a cave having a haul out platform of sandy beach or a rocky platform to which waves cannot reach easily. Mother suckles its pup
According to scientific research that has been carried on in Turkey, 31-44 individuals have been identified and it has been estimated that at least 50 Monk seals presently live on the shores of Turkey (Kirac, 2011). This number is important when the total Monk seal population in the world is considered.
In Turkey, the Mediterranean Seal Research Group (AFAG) started its activities with a limited number of students in 1987 under the Sub-Aqua Society of Middle East Technical University (METU) to protect the Mediterranean Monk seals and their habitats. After conducting field surveys and education activities with a few members, AFAG gradually increased its core members to 10 by 1991 and started its first professional and long-run research and conservation project called "Foca Pilot Project", funded by WWF (World Widelife Fund) in 1993 in Foca. In addition to the Foca Pilot Project, AFAG has accomplished 16 short/medium/long-term research-conservation-education projects until now. In 1994 the Turkish Underwater Research Society (SAD) was founded having co-founders, including AFAG core members, and since then AFAG has continued its work more effectively within SAD. In May 1998, a group of scientists from METU Marine Science Institute located in Erdemli, Mersin, associated with AFAG, who have already made great work for the research and conservation of Monk seals in the Cilician