Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus conservation: a case study in the Desertas Islands

The population of monk seals Monachus monachus on the Desertas Islands star ted to decline dramatically after the 1970s, hence the introduction of a pr oject for the conservation of the species in 1988. Since then measures have been taken to achieve effective protection of those islands, and environme ntal education, monitoring and research programmes have been carried out. M ethodologies used have been as non-intrusive as possible. Ten years later, the results have proved to be very positive. The monk seal, as well as its habitat, are adequately protected and the population, estimated at 20 indiv iduals, is now on the increase with the growing number of births. With rega rd to the finding of biological and ecological data on the species, althoug h somehow limited, it has been sufficient to help establish the most suitab le strategies for the protection and conservation of the monk seal on the D esertas Islands.