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Illustrations by Elisabethe Henriques |
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Legend:
The last and most southerly point of the Madeira Political Administration is the area known as the "Ilhas Selvagens". A group of very small islands, formerly owned by a wealthy family in Madeira, the Rocha Machado family (banking), were declared a nature sanctuary in 1971 when the property ceased to be in the possesion of the family and turned over to the government. It is currently manned by a few sentries that are relieved every two weeks. The islands are breeding grounds for Shearwaters. |
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Madeira's
nature reserve is managed alongside the other nature reserves, including
the first and only marine reserve in Portugal: the Garajau Natural
Reserve near Caniço. Other reserves include the recently
declared nature reserve of the "Desertas" (1990) - a trio
of 3 main islands with many jutting rocks about it. This area is very
popular with the local sports fishermen (non-professional sports fishermen
on day trips only). Tuna and Wahoo fishing being abundant during the
right seasons. However, it is prohibited to venture over onto dry land
on the deserted islands. That is beyond 10 metres from the shoreline.
The "Ilhas Desertas" formerly owned by a British Family, the
Hintons, were appropriated by the local Madeira government. The were
then protected from human activity and the islands are now the slow,
but still successful, breeding ground of the nearly extinct Monk Seal
(Monachus monachus). These seals were sent to near complete extinction
by ruthless fishermen who slaughtered the seals to prevent them from
attacking and consuming of the local catch. 
The
Monk Seal continues to feature as one of the
10 most threatened animal species on the list of animals
near extinction.
Above,
and alongside: The Freira, also known as Zino´s Petrel or Madeira
Petrel is also under the severe threat of extinction. These birds are
to be found in the highest altitudes of the main island of Madeira.