RESULTS OF A PRELIMINARY MISSION CARRIED OUT IN CYRENAICA, LIBYA, TO ASSESS MONK SEAL PRESENCE AND POTENTIAL COASTAL HABITAT

The Mediterranean monk seal population has declined almost to extinction throughout most of its historical range, with the exception of the Turkish and Greek archipelagos which at present represent the species ’ most conspicuous yet, overall, meagre foothold in the Mediterranean basin. Monk seal presence throughout the Mediterranean African coast is hypothesised as being low with respect to historical times but remains largely unassessed due to th