A monk seal, known locally as lobo-marinho, was sighted near the southeast coast of Madeira Island, surprising bathers close to the airport runway.
The Institute for Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN) has reminded the public of the guidelines for encountering these protected mammals. The IFCN advises maintaining a respectful distance, refraining from feeding or touching seals, and calmly exiting the water if a seal approaches.
Specific IFCN guidelines cover actions on land, in the water, during water sports, and in special situations like caves or fishing, all aimed at conserving the world's rarest seal species.
