Mediterranean monk seal

Madeira’s wild return.

Follow public reports of Madeira’s rare monk seals, known locally as lobo-marinho. Their main refuge is the Desertas Islands, with animals also seen around Madeira’s coast.

About Madeira’s monk seals

In Madeira, Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) form a small resident population. These seals feed mainly on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans, and depend on quiet coastal waters and sheltered beaches or sea caves for resting, giving birth and nursing—making respectful distance essential to their recovery.

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Where to watch

Watch patiently from land.

Unless specifically authorised, it is illegal in Madeira to enter the water to intentionally interact with a monk seal or to scuba-dive to observe one. The Desertas reserve is stricter: snorkelling or diving in a monk seal’s presence is prohibited. If a seal appears while you are already in the water, move away and leave calmly.

Recent public reports tracked here have clustered along Madeira’s south and southeast coasts. Seal Watch recommends watching patiently from land and letting any encounter happen by chance, rather than travelling to the Desertas solely to pursue a seal sighting. Desertas means “deserted” or “uninhabited” in Portuguese.