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The undersigned environmental associations Circolo per l’ambiente IBIS ODV of Crotone and the APS Monk Seal Group of Rome are happy to have donated a sculpture representing one of the rarest animals in the world and present in our seas: the Monk Seal, free of charge to the City of Crotone . The statue is donated in all the locations where the Seal lives. This sculpture is a symbol of brotherhood and union between all the people who live on the shores of the Mediterranean. It represents human fragility and that of all the creatures that populate the Mare Nostrum. The communities that have “adopted” this statue have long chosen to live in harmony with all the inhabitants, human and non-human, who populate the wonderful Mediterranean Sea. Solidarity and hospitality are founding values of these communities and are an example to pass on to visitors, for the good of all and in particular of future generations. The first statue, depicting a mother seal with her pup, was donated to Marettimo in 2009. Subsequently, similar statues were donated to the community of Komiza on the island of Vis in Croatia in 2012, to the community of Othoni, a small Greek island north of Corfu in 2015. In Gibraltar a life-size version was installed in 2016, while in 2022 the last statue was installed on the island of Caprera in Sardinia. Preparations are underway to install numerous other statues in the following locations: Linosa island in Sicily, Bizert marina in Tunisia, Al Hoseyma National Park in Morocco, near Porquerolles in France, in Palma de Mallorca in Spain, in Duino, near Trieste.
Our associations have been engaged for years in the study, protection and safeguard of this species. We are currently operating in our sea, in an area that starts from the city port and covers the entire protected marine area of Capo Rizzuto. For three years we have been among the main protagonists of an international project called Care4Seals in collaboration with the Bicocca University of Milan which aims to integrate scientific research and awareness-raising for the conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal. The scientific research part consists of monitoring the species through the analysis of environmental DNA, according to a highly innovative protocol developed by the University of Milan Bicocca as part of the Spot the Monk initiative. Thanks to these studies and the sightings that have occurred in recent years, we can say with certainty that this very rare animal has returned to repopulate our coast. The sculpture was created by Maestro Giulio Cosimi Bagada based on an idea by Marco De Salvo, of the Foca Monaca Group.
The invitation to participate in the inauguration ceremony which will take place on the Crotone seafront walkway on Wednesday 22 May at 4.00 pm with the presence of the children’s municipal council is extended to all citizens.
Following at 6.30 pm at the premises of the Yachting Kroton club Asd in the old port, there will be a workshop on the Monk Seal directed by the famous documentary maker Emanuele Coppola considered the greatest Italian expert on this species, and president of the Monk Seal Group.
