Cuteness Overload: Adorable Seal Pups Meet for the First Time

Prepare for cuteness overload at the sight of two baby seal pups meeting for the first time at The Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk seal’s (MOm) rehabilitation center this past Wednesday.

On Monday, November 22^nd, MOm saved a newborn female seal pup after she was found in the shores of Northern Evia.

MOm was informed of the seal pup on the shores of Chalkidiki, and in coordination with the Port Authority of Ormos Panagias, as well as local citizens transferred the pup to MOm’s rehabilitation center in Spata, Attica.

After the young seal pup, who was baptized “Ifigenia,” gained strength, she was introduced to an equally young, and cute, resident of the rehab center, “Evi”.

Baby Seal Pups Meet for the First Time

Ifigenia and Evi’s first interaction provides the kind of joy we need given the current health crisis: cuteness overload, for sure.

The beaches of Chalkidiki are a known sunbathing locale for young and old seal pups. Often offering humans extra cute summer experiences.

It is not strange then that Evi, who was found on November 6^th and taken to the rehab center, was also discovered at a beach in Chalkidiki.

When Evi was first identified, MOm and the local community waited in hopes that Evi’s mother would come back to get her. Bad weather probably limited mobility and visibility. After it was determined that her mother was not returning, and given Evi’s deteriorating health, she was taken to the rehab center.

While Ifigenia’s health condition was not disclosed, baby Evi suffered from advanced bronchopneumonia; both were in critical condition at the time of their respective arrivals at MOm’s clinic.

Today, the two newborns are getting stronger, and their appetites are steadily increasing, moving faster towards full rehabilitation.

The two seal pups’ first meet begins with a slow attempt at identifying the being across from them and speeds up in tempo as they gain familiarity.

Ifigenia and Evi are just two examples of MOm’s successful program on the island of Alonissos. In fact, the success is so great that the Monk seal population has increased to the point where the species is no longer on the endangered species list.

MOm’s activities span from monitoring the distribution of the Mediterranean monk seals in Greece, to locating and mapping pupping areas, all the way to studying how human activities affect the monk seals.

Much of the non-profit organization’s activities are centered around the island of Alonissos, which has a famed National Marine Park.

Recently, ABTA Magazine, identified Alonissos as one of the top global destinations for ecotourism, citing the islands National Marine Park as one of the contributing factors in its decision.

It may take a while before we are able to visit Alonissos and see seal pups with our own two eyes. So, until then, Evi and Ifigenia’s  video cuteness will continue to lift our spirits and give us insight into their world.