The location of Madeira Archipelago on the North Atlantic ocean is an advantage to get some cetaceans passing by on its migrating routes.

The only species present during all year on the Exclusive Economic Zones of Madeira and Azores archipelagos are the Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). This species have circle migratory movements through the tropical and subtropical waters for females and immatures while males have pendulum movements that can reach the polar zones. It is thought that the individuals that occur in Madeira and in Azores belong to the same population.

The Sperm whale is considered a vulnerable species to Portugal as its populations during the past 70 years (3 generations) had reduced considerably due to the intense hunting activity, which nowadays is completely forbidden.

Here are the cetacean species that might be seen during a whale and dolphin watching sea trip in Madeira waters and the most probable season to see them, based on frequency of observations:


Common species to observe in Madeira:

Bryde's Whale (Balaenoptera edeni) - April to October

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - All year but mainly from March to September

Short-finned Pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) - All year but mainly November to April

Common Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) - All year but greater number from Mars to October

Short-beaked Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - December to May

Atlantic Spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) - All year but mostly from Mars to November


Not so common species in Madeira:

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)

Northen Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - June to August

Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) - June to October

Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - February to May and July to September


Rare species in Madeira archipelago:

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)

Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

North Atlantic Right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

Killer whale (Orcinus orca)

False Killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)

Pygmy Sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)

Cuvier's Beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris)

Blainville's Beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris)

Sowerby's Beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens)

Rough Toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis)


If you whish, you may print the Madeira Sea Mammals Checklist down on this page.

Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus




Monk Seal hunting a huge Manta Ray

In Madeira Island reports of Mediterranean Monk Seals Monachus monachus go back to the 15th century, when the Portuguese navigators arrived at the island for the first time.


The first contact of this species with the navigators occurred in 1420 when the last proceeded to the charting of the Island's South coast. The observation of innumerable individuals resting in a small bay, took them to call this place "Câmara de Lobos", which translated means "bed of (sea) wolves" as in Portuguese Monk Seals are called sea wolves (Lobos marinhos) .


Almost immediately the colonizers noticed the high commercial importance of substances possible to extracted from Mediterranean Monk Seals. Therefore, several hunts were made with the aim to remove their skin and to extract oil, which was then much used to illumination and on wounds treatment, due to its high power of scarring.


Presently no more than 500 Mediterranean Monk Seals exist in the world with their distribution being confined to the basin of the Mediterranean, coastal NW Africa and in Madeira archipelago but its population is in decline except in Madeira where its colony is growing.


On Desertas Islands there exist a small colony with about 30 individuals, that due to the legal protection of these islands, have increased its population during the last years. The permanent monitoring and the protection of its habitat, assured by the Natural Park of Madeira, is vital for the preservation of this species.


Thanks to all this work, it is now getting possible to observe Monk seals along the south coast of Madeira Island again though it is a rather shy species which tends to haul-out in places with sea caves or inaccessible rocky beaches and when it swims we can only see its head and a bit of its back above water.




Monk Seal with a Manta Ray