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 October
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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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22 of 129 reports
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Explore by area
Markers represent broad named areas, never exact observation locations. Select an area to filter the archive.
21 of 22 reports mapped · 7 areas
- Calheta1 report
- Câmara de Lobos1 report
- Funchal13 reports
- Machico2 reports
- Ribeira Brava1 report
- Santa Cruz2 reports
- Santana1 report
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 2024
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified JM Madeira
Observation: Sighting: publicly reported along the coast.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting: observed at the mouths of the Santa Luzia and João Gomes streams.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified; apparently adult (uncertain) Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting: observed inside the marina; the reported adult age class was not confirmed.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Peter Worth / Lobosonda
Observation: A resting monk seal was observed on the morning Ribeira Brava trip.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira (Gabriel da Silva video)
Observation: One lobo-marinho swam near a group of five swimmers at Lido; Gabriel da Silva filmed the animal. The 31 Aug article says the encounter was 'ontem', establishing 30 Aug as the observation date.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Jornal da Madeira, citing Museu da Baleia da Madeira
Observation: One lobo-marinho was seen at Cais da Pedra d’Eira, initially resting at the sea surface near the quay before approaching it. Museu da Baleia staff reported the encounter and intervention. This is distinct in date from the 17 July Pedradeira sighting.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: One lobo-marinho swam near the bathing complex's access steps. Bystanders left the water during the encounter.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Jornal da Madeira, via NetMadeira republication
Observation: One lobo-marinho was observed near Praia da Barreirinha on the afternoon of Thursday 15 Aug, drawing the attention of bathers.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Repeated sightings: the animal had reportedly used this coastal section for about three days; its identity was not established.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified RTP Madeira
Observation: Sighting: seen beside the sea-access steps; no link to adjacent-date reports was established.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified RTP Madeira
Observation: Sighting: seen by bathers near the beach.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting: observed close to shore in the bathing area.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting: observed beside the bathing complex.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified juvenile (reported) RTP Madeira
Observation: One lobo-marinho was filmed swimming inside Calheta marina. RTP described it as a juvenile; the age class is the reporter’s attribution. This is separate from the 1 Jun Funchal marina and São Jorge sightings.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting: north-coast observation; no link to the same-day Funchal report was established.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting: reported as the third recent appearance in the same harbour area.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified RTP Madeira
Observation: Sighting: observed close to the bathing area.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified RTP Madeira
Observation: Reported and photographed near Praia Formosa; the seal had left before IFCN personnel arrived.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira (Joana Freitas images)
Observation: One lobo-marinho was seen close to the shore at Praia Formosa and photographed by Joana Freitas. The report explicitly distinguishes this encounter from the 30 Apr sighting at the same beach; whether the same animal returned is unknown.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira; Jornal da Madeira
Observation: 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.
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Date: 2024Reported: Two unidentified seals; juvenile and adult reported Sergio@Cruises (Sergio Ferreira)
Observation: 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.
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Date: 2024Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting / feeding: observed feeding on fish beside the marina.