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
5 February—17 September
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Receive alerts for new public reports. Lock-screen alerts show only the broad Madeira area, never the exact location.
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7 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 Visitor report to Seal Watch
Observation: 1 seal observed at 15:00 (Madeira time). Saw her too late so she bit me in my right ankle. I think she might searched for food.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified RTP Madeira
Observation: A red flag was raised while the seal remained close to the bathing area.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Madeira Island News Blog
Observation: Observed close to bathers; the report did not establish the animal's identity.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified JM Madeira / RTP Madeira
Observation: Entered or approached the bathing/harbour area.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Observed moving among moored boats during the afternoon.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Filmed by a fisher shortly after midnight; it may have been the individual seen nearby on 5 Feb.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified JM Madeira
Observation: Observed during the afternoon; photo/video supplied by a reader.