Conservação Lobo-marinho Madeira

Conservação Lobo-marinho Madeira is a long-running conservation initiative dedicated to protecting the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) in the Ilhas Desertas Nature Reserve, part of the Madeira archipelago. This population is one of only two surviving Atlantic colonies of the species, making it globally significant.

In the 1980s, the population had plummeted to just 6–8 individuals, prompting urgent action by the Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza da Madeira (IFCN). The reserve was granted full protection in 1990, and since then, the monk seal has become a symbol of nature conservation in Portugal.

These efforts have led to a population growth from fewer than a dozen seals in the late 1980s to 25–30 individuals today, their habitat use and behavior monitored with non-invasive methodds like remote cameras. The conservation program aims to safeguard critical sea caves used for pupping and resting and to manage interactions with tourism and fisheries, including bans on harmful fishing gear.

Two EU LIFE projects, the LIFE Madeira Monk Seal Project (2014-2019) and its successor VECLAM (2021-2024) have strengthened surveillance and research. The seals are most active in autumn, when births occur in secluded caves. Despite challenges like low genetic diversity and high pup mortality, the colony shows signs of resilience, with an average of 2 new recruits per year.