The start of 2025 has brought us some amazing news. While carefully studying the footage from the infrared cameras we had placed in the caves of Gyaros before the beginning of the breeding season, we were surprised and delighted to recognize an old acquaintance....Nicole! But that's not what's new. The excellent news is that Nicole had her newborn pup, also female, by her side! Yes, this is the first time we now have proof before us that the orphaned pups we care for and then release into the wild not only survive (we have known this for years from satellite monitoring) but also successfully integrate into the wild population and breeding processes. If we consider that since 1990, when the Rehabilitation Program started has since been carried out continuously, 23 pups have been successfully rehabilitated, 11 of which are females, and that each female can give birth to up to 20 pups in her lifetime, we immediately understand the contribution of this unique international programme to the recovery of the species in Greece and beyond! Regarding Nicole's small but important story, we would like to remind you that she was found orphaned in autumn 2019 and was rehabilitated and released along with another orphaned female pup, Lena. The two pups were released in Gyaros in February 2020.

 

You can watch the video of their release at the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xsSFvYW_9g