An orphaned monk seal named Kostis has become a local celebrity Greece After being rescued by fishermen three years ago, he was found using a harpoon at close range, which aroused the anger of environmentalists and demanded that the murderer be found.
MotherThe Greek Monk Seal Research and Conservation Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting endangered species, stated that Costis was deliberately killed in the waters near Alonissos in the northern part of the Sporades Islands.
“The Coast Guard notified us and we went there immediately. Unfortunately, it was confirmed that the animal was dead,” said Panagiotis Dendrinos, the chairman of MOm.
According to Dandrinos, the seal’s body was pierced by a long harpoon that was more than one meter long, which appeared to be launched downward from the ship, and it seemed unlikely that it was an accident.
“Everything shows that this was intentional. The way the animal was hit, the weapon used,” he said.
“This is a terrible and sad event,” he said. “This makes us feel very sad and angry, not only us, but also most of the residents and tourists of Alonissos. They know Costis. This seal is wandering around the port.”
Alonissos is one of the only remaining monk seal habitats in the Mediterranean. After being rescued by fishermen as a baby in 2018, Kostis has placed it in the heartland, apparently orphaned after the storm rushed him to Folegandros Island.
With the help of the locals, it was taken care of at the Mother Rescue Center in Alonissos, and was sent back to the wild when it was 3-4 months old and became a beloved mascot on the island.
“We hope to find the culprit because this is a criminal act. This is not only unethical, but also illegal,” Dandrineos said.
Monk seals were once found across the Mediterranean Sea and are considered to be one of the most threatened species in the world. It is believed that only a few hundred people remain on the Aegean Sea or the Atlantic coast of Mauritania in northwest Africa.
The local prosecutor has ordered an investigation.
