Desertinha returns

After 10 months, the Desertinha returned to Desertas islands. The last time she was seen - next to the south coast of Madeira - looked like to be wounded and probably for this reason remained in the same area until now.
Desertinha was the first monachus monachus to be identified by the Natural Park of Madeira and is the oldest Mediterranean Monk Seal of the colony of Desertas Islands. It is therefore of great importance for the responsible biologists for the preservation of the colony, that counts, currently, with about 30 adult Mediterranean Monk Seals.
Rosa Pires, biologist of the Natural Park of Madeira (PNM), reported that this is the time of coupling for the Mediterranean Monk Seals in the Desertas Islands, and Desertinha may have returned to couple. This is an important factor, in the colony, as last year there was only a successful birth.

Source: http://www.dnoticias.pt/ – March 21, 2007