Two bathers suffered minor injuries this morning after being bitten by a fur seal near the bathing area of Praia Formosa, in Funchal, leading authorities to temporarily suspend access to the sea.
Following the incident, the lifeguard immediately instructed all swimmers to leave the water and prevented further bathing as a safety precaution. The red flag was raised, and the Maritime Police and Nature Rangers were called to the scene to monitor the animal’s movements.
The two people involved, one a tourist and the other a Madeiran resident, sustained only minor injuries.
Speaking to TSF-Madeira, Paulo Oliveira, from the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), confirmed that neither case appeared serious.
“The information I have at the moment is that they are not serious injuries. The tourist did not even require assistance, and the Madeiran bather is being evaluated, but obviously it is not a serious situation,” he explained.
Following the incident, the IFCN once again reminded the public that, although Madeira’s fur seals are a protected and much-loved species, they remain wild animals and should not be approached.
“The fur seal is a wild animal, and people need to understand that. They must avoid interactions with fur seals,” stressed Paulo Oliveira.
He explained that the species is naturally curious and may sometimes approach people in the water. However, behaviour that begins as curiosity can quickly change if the animal feels threatened or people react suddenly.
“The fur seal, by nature, is very curious and likes to interact. It often approaches and nibbles as an act of curiosity and exploration, not necessarily because it is aggressive. However, when people react, that curiosity can quickly turn into a defensive response,” he warned.
The advice from authorities is simple: if a fur seal appears nearby, remain calm, move away slowly and leave the water. People should never swim towards the animal, attempt to touch it, or encourage interaction.
Paulo Oliveira said that whenever a fur seal is spotted close to a bathing area, the standard procedure is to remove people from the water until the animal moves away.
“The guidelines are exactly these: to remove people from the water and prohibit entry while the animal remains there. We then send Nature Rangers to the location to help manage the situation,” he said.
At the time of the statement, the fur seal was still close to Praia Formosa, with authorities continuing to monitor the area.
The IFCN has also issued a reminder on social media about what to do if a fur seal is spotted. Anyone practising water sports such as paddleboarding or kayaking should avoid approaching the animal. If the seal comes closer, calmly move away and leave the water.
If a fur seal is resting on land, people should keep their distance, avoid making noise and not disturb it.
Anyone who sees a fur seal is encouraged to report the sighting to the IFCN, providing, where possible, the date, time, location, behaviour of the animal and the number of animals observed.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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