On the arrival of the rare and endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal-Yulia (Monachus monachus Hermann, 1779) on the shores of Jaffa, Palestine (May 2023)

Abstract

The Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus Hermann, 1779) is one of the rarest and endangered species in the world. The aim of the current study is to shed light on the arrival and stay for several days of a female specimen of the Mediterranean Monk Seal on the shores of Jaffa, Palestine. The current study relied on the follow-up of many Palestinian and Israeli news websites and social networking sites that dealt with this rare event. Once the Mediterranean Monk Seal arrived, she was given the name "Yulia" by a Jaffa boy who was the first to see her. It was reported that the 20-year-old and 6-foot-tall Yulia was spotted in Turkey in 2007, at which time she was going by the name "Tugra". Yulia was seen basking in the sun on Jaffa beach and wallowing repeatedly into the sand, visibly unfazed by the huge successive crowd that came from all over the country to see and monitor her. The seal's rapid return to the water several times as she sailed indicated that she was in good physical condition. The news received indicated that Yulia had come ashore to shed, which meant that her old skin with its fur should be shed and replaced with a new one. Yulia became a hot topic for journalists, environmentalists and marine life enthusiasts. Although Yulia was protected during her beach vacation in Jaffa, the study recommends that the relevant authorities should build suitable caves along the Palestinian coast for the incoming seals to settle in.