Monk seal

The monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet.

Until recently, the monk seal was a common sight along Mediterranean coasts, but habitat destruction, mainly due to tourism related to coastal development, pollution, poaching and threats from the fishing industry, has led to a dramatic decline in numbers of monk seals.

At present, there are only small communities, which are on the verge of extinction. The CBD-Habitat Foundation, with the participation of Fundación Parques Reunidos has launched a new mammal conservation project on the coast of Mauritania, supporting its projects through our zoos and aquariums.