Description
Over the past 20 years, concerted efforts have seen the Cabo Blanco monk seal population soar from a mere 100 individuals to over 350, with annual pup production rising from 26 to an impressive 80 births. These achievements, made possible through meticulous conservation strategies, underscore the importance of sustained dedication to protecting our natural heritage.
Despite these strides, persistent threats loom, challenging the viability of the monk seal population in the medium to long term. The concentration of adult females utilizing only three caves along a one-kilometer stretch of coast for resting and reproduction renders the population vulnerable to various risks, including cave collapses, infectious diseases, red tides, and urban development.
Recognizing the imperative to safeguard the species' future, authorities from Mauritania, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco collectively endorsed the creation of a network of new monk seal populations as a pivotal measure to counter these challenges and, hopefully, ensure the species’ survival.
