A second orphaned seal pup has been taken in this week at the MOm Care Centre, which is based within the Attica Zoological Park in Spata. The little Mediterranean monk seal, named ‘Aphrodite’, is about a week old and weighs just 15 kilograms. According to MOm, she was most likely separated from her mother during the severe weather of the last few days.
“Alexis is no longer alone,” wrote the organisation, referring to the seal pup from Spetses that is already being cared for in Spata and about which we wrote on 13 October.
From the gorge to the Zoo
Aphrodite was found by Vrettos Sklavos and his team from Outdoor Activities Greece on Kalami Beach in Kythira, which they reached by descending a gorge. Due to rough seas, no boat could reach the spot. They immediately alerted the MOm Rescue Team, Animal Aid Kythira and the Coastguard. The climbers, together with members of Animal Aid Kythira, carried the animal up in a special climbing bag. A local vet, a travel agency, the ship’s crew and the Kythira Port Authority also assisted in the rescue, and MOm publicly thanked them all.
First aid was then administered at a veterinary clinic in Livadi, Kythira, where the seal remained until the following midday, before being transported by ferry to Piraeus. From there, it was transferred to MOm’s facilities in Spata. At the Athens Animal Hospital, it underwent haematological, biochemical and radiological examinations.
What’s it like now?
The seal arrived clearly malnourished and weakened. According to MOm, initial findings do not indicate any serious medical condition apart from severe malnutrition and dehydration. Her health is being monitored around the clock. The aim is for her to gradually regain her strength and return to the sea, just as Alexis is preparing to do.
If you spot a seal on a beach
The Mediterranean monk seal is one of Europe’s most endangered marine mammals, and Greece is home to a significant proportion of its population. Autumn is the main birthing season, so seal pups may appear on busy beaches, often on their own, because their mother has gone out to forage. The correct response is to keep your distance, keep dogs and onlookers away, do not touch the animal, do not feed it and do not push it into the water. Alert the Coastguard on 108 or the MOm Rescue Team.
The MOm care programme is one of the lesser-known activities run by the Attica Zoological Park in Spata. To find out what the Park offers residents, see our report on the annual pass.
Source: MOm/Society for the Study and Protection of the Mediterranean Monk Seal, press release dated 21 October 2026.
