Many of you might be aware that there is a seal wintering on Ios and some friends of mine did some research on the animal and came up with the following information:
PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE SEAL! IT IS AN ENDANGERED AND PROTECTED SPECIES, NOT A PLAYTHING!
Our wonderful friend Mark Collins did research on the seal and here is what he writes:
Ios Greece Island Our famous seal name perdita alma (lost soul) i called the seal protection centre in greece to find out more about him as alot of people been asking questions ,the seal centre know all about him ,Hes a boy and at this moment hes moulting (the changing of fur),He needs piece and quiet and not to be disturbed as when moulting he needs to regain his energy as moulting drains them and they need lots of sleep , Human touch can cause him harm espcially if you have a cold (flu) etc , Do not attempt to put water on him and do not drag him in the sea as hes on a mission to replinish his looks !! (like when you go to the hairdressers) Do not feed him its a big no no !! Please dont let any dogs near him if walking the dog he will get very stressed ,also be careful driving along port beach as he some times crosses the road drive slowly ,
**** He is one of the most critically endangered mammals on our planet. ***please share … AWARNESS OF THE IOS SEAL !
Another friend has translated the gist into Greek:
Το όνομα της γνωστής φώκιας του νησιού μας Perdita Alma (χαμένη ψυχή).
Κάλεσα το Ελληνικό κέντρο προστασίας για να μάθω περισσότερα, καθώς αρκετός κόσμος έκανε ερωτήσεις, και το κέντρο ήξερε τα πάντα για τη φώκια.
Αρχικά είναι αρσενική και αυτό το διάστημα αλλάζει τρίχωμα. Χρειάζεται ηρεμία και γαλήνη καθώς μαδεί, διότι χάνει πολύ απο την ενέργεια του και για την αποκατάσταση της ενέργειας χρειάζεται πολύ ύπνο.
Το ανθρώπινο άγγιγμα μπορεί να προκαλέσει βλάβες, ειδικά αν κάποιος που θα προσπαθήσει να τον αγγίξει είναι κρυωμένος ή πάσχει απο κάποια ίωση – ασθένεια.
ΜΗΝ επιχειρήσετε να του ρίξετε νερό ή να τον τραβήξετε πίσω στην θάλλασα διότι βρίσκεται στην αποστολή της φύσης του να αλλάξει την εξωτερική του εμφάνιση (λ.χ όταν εμείς πηγαίνουμε στο κομμωτήριο).
ΜΗΝ τον ταϊσετε !!! ΑΠΑΓΟΡΕΥΕΤΑΙ !!!
Κρατήστε τα σκυλιά μακριά διότι και μόνο στη θέα ενούς άλλου ζώου επέρχεται άγχος στον μικρό μας φίλο.
Επίσης προσπαθήστε να προσέχετε με τα αυτοκίνητα σας καθώς οδηγείτε στον δρόμο της παραλίας του λιμανιού. Κάποιες φορές περνάει το δρόμο.
Είναι ενα απο τα πιό επίφοβα είδη προς εξαφάνιση παγκοσμίως.
*** Παρακαλώ κοινοποιήστε το… Προσέχουμε την φώκια της Ίου !!!
What are my credentials to comment on this? Before my husband got ill, we started up the Ios Animal Welfare Society to try and create a bridge between the animal-lovers of Ios and the authorities and also to provide information concerning animal topics and info about vet visits to the island. Unfortunately, I had to dissolve the society because of my husband’s illness and evential death. However, I have continued to keep the Facebook page open and update it with any information I feel is of interest to the island’s animal-loving community.
I was not born on Ios, but I first came to the island in 1973 and fell in love with the place. Now I am the lucky owner of 2 houses on Ios – I count myself a Niotissa. Perhaps I love the island more than many locally born there, as it was my CHOICE to make it my home. I also count myself a Londoner, an Athenian and a citizen of the world.
Although people have been made aware on Ios that it is dangerous for the seal for humans or other animals to approach it or touch it, they seem to ignore any warnings and insist on endangering the seal’s health. These are some comments by a local as to why it’s not necessary to take heed of these warnings:
… but! i have a theory: according το observe the natural low of ALL ANIMAL EMOTIONS , we can see through years that all kind of animals are developing more sensibilitιies long time now .If Theodosis is going out to meet people of Ios island ,means- maybe that his emotional intelligense is more progreesive than mines and yours. . Maybe he feels gratitude of all people and fishermans kindness to feed him and he feels more than you and mee through vibes because animals feel like that .See the new way that animals have opinion, and if he will not like the presense of the houman being , to go back in sea.I RESPECT THEODOSIS THESIS and obser
…
people of Greece in islands growned up close to Theodosis seals every day I know this is a different culture that maybe you cant understand because you are not greek citizen .Its time for reconsiderations in this planet . Greek people gave free everything in knowlege respecting the time of other comunities to accept through feelings of love and patient till others see the obvious i will do the same because im from Hellas
…
but i stil believe and respect and insist in animals Free Will to do things following their primitive emotions and vibes . theories like these<< animals are wild>> make me to understand that professors dont want to see animals progress so to patronize their old investigations
WHAT A LOAD OF CODSWALLOP!
Could this be the reason there are only roughly 600 of these seals left in the world?
I understand people want to take photos of this animal, but most smart phones and cameras have zoom functions – why not stand well back and use this feature? Ah, you want a picture of yourself with the seal? Surely you’ve learnt how to take a selfie by now? But even if you haven’t, a friend could take a photo of you & then you could combine the photos by editing. Oh, you don’t know how to edit? Nobody is born with knowledge, you learn as you go through life, so ask Dr Google how to combine pics and LEARN! That way you won’t be endangering the seal’s life. It’s so cute you want to touch it anyway? Well how selfish and thoughtless of you. Shame on you: if the seal dies, it will be too late and you will be to blame …..