Attica Zoological Park caring for rescued monk seal pup

A baby Mediterranean monk seal, discovered on a beach on the Sporades island of Skopelos last Sunday, is being cared for at a special unit at the Attica Zoological Park, near Athens International Airport, aid workers said on Tuesday.

The seal pup, which is believed to be just 2 weeks old, weighs 13 kilograms and is said to be suffering from dehydration and a respiratory infection, according to veterinarians who said the mammal’s condition must stabilize in the next few days if it is to survive.

An adult female seal found dead a weak earlier on the same beach in Velanio, in the island’s southeast, is believed to have been the pup’s mother.

The Mediterranean monk seal is one of the most endangered mammals in the world, with an estimated 600 remaining individuals.