Mediterranean monk seal

The Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus is considered the rarest and one of the most endangered mammals in the world. This species reaches an average length of 2.40 m and a weight of 320 kg in adulthood, the female being slightly smaller than the male. The monk seal is active during the day and feeds on fish (eel, sardines, tuna, etc.), mollusks (mostly octopus) and crustaceans. It can swallow up to three kilograms of food a day. There are many reasons for the dramatic decline in the population of the Mediterranean monk seal. Especially the industrial hunting (especially during the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages) and its destruction in the 20th century by the fishermen who considered it a pest because the seals often tore fish-filled nets, trying to eat the fish inside. Another major reason is the urbanization of the coastline.