Cyprus · Mediterranean Sea
Cyprus · stories
Read recent published observations from Cyprus. Each entry keeps its original source attribution and a link back to the archive.
Politis reported video of seals swimming close to the Peyia coast. Its article body describes two seals, while its summary describes one, so the count remains unspecified. Published 9 September; the exact filming date was not stated.
Source: Politis
Reported 9 Sep 2026 · Peyia coastA seal was filmed swimming and repeatedly diving near the shore in Kato Paphos harbour. Cyprus Mail identified it as a Mediterranean monk seal and reported the encounter on Thursday, 20 August.
Source: Pafos Press / Cyprus Mail
20 Aug 2026 · Kato Paphos harbourOne seal was seen swimming near boats in Kato Paphos harbour. Onlookers recorded the encounter on their phones. The article explicitly places the sighting on 14 July.
Source: Pafos Press
14 Jul 2026 · Kato Paphos harbourOne seal was filmed near two people riding a jet ski between Coral Bay and Corallia beaches. Pafos Press reported the encounter on 16 June; the exact filming date was not stated.
Source: Pafos Press
Reported 16 Jun 2026 · Waters between Coral Bay and Corallia beachesAn adult seal was found dead near Neo Chorio on the morning of 24 March. Members of the public notified the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. The reports did not establish the cause of death.
Source: Pafos Press / Cyprus News Agency (via ink)
24 Mar 2026 · Coast near Neo ChorioWhile filming a little gull at dawn, Colin recorded a seal offshore and noticed it when reviewing the footage that evening. He reports its identification as a Mediterranean monk seal after making enquiries.
Source: Colin — A Field Notebook
13 December 2025 · Paphos HeadlandThe monitoring team and lifeguards found the orphaned pup Panagis on a rocky shore. He was subsequently taken into care and transferred to Greece.
Source: Cyprus agriculture ministry statement, reproduced by Philenews
21 November 2024 · Rocky coast, Famagusta district; exact site unspecifiedThe monitoring register records Arkadia's birth to Anassa.
Source: Cyprus DFMR — Marcou and Nicolaou
4 October 2023 · Akamas coastal cavePhotographic observation identified on iNaturalist as Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus).
Source: Julien Renoult — iNaturalist (jujurenoult)
2 March 2023 · Cyprus; locality obscuredThe monitoring register records Odysseas's birth to Ydili.
Source: Cyprus DFMR — Marcou and Nicolaou
25 December 2022 · Akrotiri coastal cavesThe monitoring register records Melouzini's birth to Ariadne.
Source: Cyprus DFMR — Marcou and Nicolaou
10 December 2022 · Akrotiri coastal cavesA dead seal pup was found on a beach after heavy seas. Researchers assumed it was the pup seen on 27 October, but that identity was not confirmed. This date is the carcass discovery date, not a confirmed date of death.
Source: Beton et al. — Oryx camera-trap study
5 November 2018 · North coast beach; exact site withheld