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

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3 of 129 reports

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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. 12000
  2. 22001
  3. 12002
  4. 22003
  5. 12004
  6. 22005
  7. 42006
  8. 12007
  9. 42008
  10. 22010
  11. 22011
  12. 32012
  13. 22013
  14. 52014
  15. 32015
  16. 22016
  17. 42017
  18. 52018
  19. 62019
  20. 42020
  21. 42021
  22. 22022
  23. 92023
  24. 222024
  25. 102025
  26. 262026

Months in 2024

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