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
22 January—24 August
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10 of 129 reports
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Markers represent broad named areas, never exact observation locations. Select an area to filter the archive.
10 of 10 reports mapped · 5 areas
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 2025
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date: 2025Reported: Unidentified JM Madeira
Observation: Fishing interaction: the seal took fish from buoys used by three spearfishers; one buoy was reportedly destroyed.
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Date: 2025Reported: Unidentified JM Madeira
Observation: Sighting / swimmer interaction: a seal approached and surprised a swimmer in the bathing area.
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Date: 2025Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting / resting: observed resting on the maritime ramp.
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Date: 2025Reported: Two unidentified seals Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Multiple-animal sighting: two seals were filmed interacting or playing in the harbour.
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Date: 2025Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting: observed inside the marina; no obvious injury was reported.
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Date: 2025Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting: observed close to bathers.
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Date: 2025Reported: Unidentified Public
Observation: Observed inside the dock area.
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Date: 2025Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Repeated-sighting sequence: observed along the same coastal section on consecutive days.
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Date: 2025Reported: Unidentified Diário de Notícias Madeira
Observation: Sighting: observed beside the pier.
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Date: 2025Reported: Unidentified Jornal da Madeira (Romina Barreto)
Observation: One lobo-marinho was seen beside the nau Santa Maria in Funchal harbour at about noon on 22 January 2025. The report did not identify the animal; its relation to the separate 24 January sighting is unknown.