It’s a girl! Greece has welcomed its first Mediterranean monk seal pup of 2026, and the newborn female is reported to be in excellent health alongside her mother.

The news was announced by MOm – The Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, after researchers discovered the mother and her newborn in an open sea cave somewhere in the Aegean Sea.

The sighting marks the beginning of this year’s breeding season, with scientists now expecting to find more newborn pups in the coming weeks.

Last year, the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades recorded a record 21 monk seal births, highlighting the remarkable recovery of the Mediterranean monk seal population in Greece.

If you spot a Mediterranean monk seal, you can contact MOm’s 24-hour hotline at +30 210 522 2888 or submit a sighting report through the organization’s official reporting form.