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
10 April—6 September
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6 of 129 reports
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5 of 6 reports mapped · 3 areas
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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 2019
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Orlando Drumond / Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: A possible seal was reported near Avenida do Mar at night. The authorities said they had received the report but had not located the animal or confirmed that it was a seal.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified RTP Madeira; images and account by Anibal Rodrigues
Observation: Anibal Rodrigues recorded a seal near the coast by Clube Naval do Funchal in the afternoon. The account raised a concern about its condition and said marine-biology staff were monitoring it; no diagnosis was established.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified John Wright, Madeira 3–12 July 2019 trip report / Mammal Watching
Observation: John Wright saw one monk seal near the boat around noon at Deserta Grande. A second joined it near a buoy, and both remained visible until the boat departed after 15:00.
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Date:Reported: Profeta Rosário Martins / Funchal Notícias; unnamed reader's eyewitness account
Observation: A reader described the young seal called Profeta resting on Porto Santo's beach and returning to the water around 19:30 on Monday. The account describes the animal as a female about six to eight months old.
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Date: 2019Reported: Unidentified iNaturalist — Vasco Valadares
Observation: Vasco Valadares recorded a Mediterranean monk seal in the Madeira archipelago. The observation includes photographs; the source obscures the location.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Rúben Santos and Gonçalo Maia / Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: A young seal was found on Praia da Calheta around 16:00. The contemporary report said it showed no visible injuries and was being observed by nature wardens.