seal.watch / madeira

Madeira · 2000—2026

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.

Total reports
129
Latest observation

Public reports · newest first

Public records archive

26 April—30 April

Reset filters

3 of 129 reports

Loading public records…

Explore by area

All areas

Markers represent broad named areas, never exact observation locations. Select an area to filter the archive.

3 of 3 reports mapped · 1 area

N ↑Funchal · 3 reports1
  1. Funchal3 reports

Map: Natural Earth.

Reports over time

All dates

Select a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.

  1. 22008
  2. 12010
  3. 12013
  4. 12014
  5. 12015
  6. 22019
  7. 42020
  8. 12022
  9. 132024
  10. 52025
  11. 102026

Months in 2024

  1. 0Jan
  2. 0Feb
  3. 0Mar
  4. 3Apr
  5. 2May
  6. 2Jun
  7. 1Jul
  8. 3Aug
  9. 0Sep
  10. 2Oct
  11. 0Nov
  12. 0Dec

Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.

  1. 2024
    Praia Formosa Funchal
    Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira; Jornal da Madeira

    One lobo-marinho was filmed swimming near bathers at Praia Formosa. Diário de Notícias says it was seen that morning; Sandra Oliveira supplied the video. Jornal da Madeira reported the same encounter. Mediterranean monk seal · 1 seal

  2. 2024
    Porto do Funchal Funchal
    Two unidentified seals; juvenile and adult reported Sergio@Cruises (Sergio Ferreira)

    Sergio Ferreira reported two lobos-marinhos in Funchal harbour, describing one as juvenile and one as adult. The age classes are source attributions; no individual identity or relation to other April reports is established. Mediterranean monk seal · 2 seals

  3. 2024
    Marina do Funchal Funchal
    Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira

    Sighting / feeding: observed feeding on fish beside the marina.