The only true colony of monk seals in the world is Cabo Blanco seal colony living in the westernmost point of African continent. Here live some 200 Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus).
Once upon a time Mediterranean monk seal was common animal – these 2.4 m long, 240 – 400 kg heavy seals were abundant in Mediterranean sea, Black sea and part of Atlantic Ocean near Gibraltar, around Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores.
Due to hunting, disturbance and unfavourable changes in environment their number has dramatically decreased. Now only some 450 – 510 animals survive, mostly around Cabo Blanco, but also around Madeira, in Aegean Sea and some more locations in Mediterranean.
