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.
A post-moult Class C seal was seen in the monitored area while researchers followed the status of a pup. The seal's identity and any relationship to that pup were not established; the exact site is withheld.
Source: Beton et al. — Oryx camera-trap study
31 October 2018 · North coast; exact site withheldA non-moulted pup was observed at a fishing harbour following a storm. “Pup 3” is the researchers' label; the exact harbour and nearby cave locations are withheld.
Source: Beton et al. — Oryx camera-trap study
27 October 2018 · North coast; exact harbour withheldA female post-moult seal was photographed at a monitored coastal site. “Seal 4” is the study's photo-identification label, not a public animal name; the exact cave site is withheld.
Source: Beton et al. — Oryx camera-trap study
10 October 2018 · North coast; exact monitored site withheldA young seal pup previously seen alone in Kato Paphos was reported swimming with its mother in Paphos waters. The report dated 3 February says foresters saw the pair the previous day; neither animal is individually named.
Source: Cyprus DFMR report via Pafos Press / Cyprus Mail
2 February 2018 · Paphos waters; exact site unspecifiedOne Mediterranean monk seal appeared in shallow water at Kato Paphos harbour at about 08:00 and remained there for several hours, according to local eyewitness reports.
Source: My Journey / Pafos Press
23 January 2018 · Kato Paphos harbourA female non-moulted pup was recorded at a monitored coastal site. The study later reported that the pup died before moulting; it attributed the death to wave action based on circumstantial evidence.
Source: Beton et al. — Oryx camera-trap study
11 November 2017 · Cyprus coast; exact site withheldA moulted pup was observed outside a monitored coastal cave. Researchers considered it likely to be the same pup they had recorded during 25 November–9 December 2016; that identity remains the study's attribution.
Source: Beton et al. — Oryx camera-trap study
11 February 2017 · Cyprus coast; exact site withheldGeorge Konstantinou reported seeing one adult female Mediterranean monk seal at the Cape Plakoti coast. The source dates the visit to 5 November 2016 and says he photographed and filmed the encounter; no individual name is attributed.
Source: George Konstantinou — firsthand field notes
5 November 2016 · Cape Plakoti coast; exact site withheldLinda Stokes reported two monk seals together in about 3 m of water for at least two hours. A possible third animal was too distant to identify confidently and is excluded from the count.
Source: Linda Stokes, firsthand comment on Monachus Guardian DFMR account
3 Aug 2015 · Cliff coast between Agios Georgios and Governor's BeachRobert Thompson reported one monk seal surfacing at intervals for about 45 minutes while his boat was anchored off Governor's Beach. The encounter was offshore; no photograph was available and no individual identity was assigned.
Source: Robert Thompson, firsthand comment on Monachus Guardian DFMR account
18 Jul 2015 · Governor's Beach coast, off Andreas and Melani (Thalassa) restaurantA very young monk seal pup was found dead on the coast. The source does not establish the cause of death.
Source: A. Demetropoulos — personal record cited in Cyprus EIA
18 November 2009 · Chrysochou Bay coast; exact site withheldWindsurfer Jorg Grether reported one dark seal about 80 metres offshore from Mackenzie Beach at 16:00 on 25 January 2008. It surfaced nearby and then disappeared.
Source: Jorg Grether, firsthand letter in Monachus Guardian
25 January 2008 · Off Mackenzie Beach