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
6 January—8 September
Follow updates
Receive alerts for new public reports. Lock-screen alerts show only the broad Madeira area, never the exact location.
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10 of 129 reports
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Explore by area
All areasMarkers represent broad named areas, never exact observation locations. Select an area to filter the archive.
26 of 26 reports mapped · 8 areas
- Calheta4 reports
- Calheta waters1 report
- Câmara de Lobos1 report
- Caniçal1 report
- Caniço1 report
- Funchal10 reports
- Machico1 report
- Santa Cruz7 reports
Map: Natural Earth.
Reports over time
All datesSelect a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.
Months in 2026
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Public
Observation: Around Lido and Gorgulho Islet
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified JM Madeira
Observation: Observed close to shore near Praia Formosa and Doca do Cavacas.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified JM Madeira
Observation: Approached bathers near the bathing complex platform.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified young seal Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Rested beside the bathing complex while a safety perimeter was maintained.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified JM Madeira
Observation: Its appearance prompted a red flag and temporarily kept bathers out of the water.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Public
Observation: Two bathers were bitten and sustained minor injuries; bathing was temporarily suspended and IFCN urged people to avoid interaction.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Observed close to the bathing area during the morning.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira / RTP Madeira
Observation: Rested ashore near the coast and was filmed returning to the sea.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Observed near shore, apparently resting at the surface.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified RTP Madeira
Observation: Seen beside Doca do Cavacas during the afternoon and reported swimming along Praia Formosa.