Dear colleagues Apologies for cross-posting. On behalf of my co-authors, I would like to draw your attention to a new paper on Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) sightings in Israel: Roditi-Elasar M, Bundone L, Goffman O, Scheinin P.A, Kerem H.D. 2020. Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) sightings in Israel 2009–2020: Extralimital records or signs of population expansion?. Marine Mammal Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12734 Abstract After 50 years of absence and a ‘Possibly Extinct’ classification by IUCN, numerous reports of Mediterranean monk seal along the Israeli coast accumulated since 2010. Eighty-three encounters, 16% of which were also photographed, were reviewed, categorized according to reliability of information and subjected to natural-markings photo-identification. Two different individuals were identified until April 2020. One, a female named ‘Maya’, was photographed repeatedly over the years. 'Maya' was also identified in early 2020 north of Beirut, Lebanon, stressing the importance of a regional cooperative research and conservation plan. Please e-mail me at elasar.ma@gmail.com <mailto:elasar.ma@gmail.com> for further information. Best wishes, Mia ---------------- Mia Elasar, Ph.D Research fellow, The Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, University of Haifa. P.O.Box 77, Kfar Rosh Hanikra 22825, Israel Telefax: +972-4-9826861 Mobile: +972-50-3225227 _________________________________________________________________________