Yulia, the Mediterranean monk seal who captivated many in Israel last May with her appearances on beaches in the Sharon region, Gush Dan, and even the Gaza Strip, was spotted in Lebanon a few weeks ago, according to Dr. Maya Elasar of the Delphis Association, who leads the project for the return of monk seals to Israel. The update on Yulia's status was announced during a conference in Greece.
Elasar reported that Yulia, seen north of Beirut, appeared healthy and in good condition. It is believed she is currently on her way to Turkey, making her return to Israeli shores unlikely.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Elasar will present the Delphis educational program, developed as part of the "Yulia Project," to representatives from various countries attending an international workshop on the conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This workshop, held in Greece, is part of the regional conservation project led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and includes experts from the Mediterranean region. In Turkey, Yulia is known as Tugra-Gulgez and typically resides around the Mersin area.
Before the establishment of the state of Israel, sightings of this species of seal were more common. Reports of individual seals were recorded from the 1920s until 1958. In 2010, sightings began again on beaches where they had not been seen for decades, including Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Today, the population of Mediterranean monk seals is estimated at about 900, with approximately 400 living along the coasts of Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey.