Sea-wolves in growth

Although in the last year we have had only a successful birth, the colony of sea-wolves of Madeira is the only one that has come to grow in the last five years. An it is expected that the colony comes to grow again, as March is one month where the males try to couple. The period of gestation is of about 9 months. The baby sea-wolves are born in land and then go by a period of breast-feeding that may reach the 120 days.
Currently, these species are at risk, existing only about 500 exemplars spread throughout the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Atlantic Ocean, namely in the northwest cost of Africa and in Madeira. The colony in Madeira is constituted at this moment of sea-wolves - Lobos Marinhos - (designation used solely in the Region), being already many of them identified, as the Desertinha, the Birisca, the Risca Grande, the Esbranquiçado, the Macho of the Bugio and the Loma.
The preservation of this species is, since 1988, in charge of the Natural Park of Madeira with the patrol of a small boat throughout the islands and by the direct watch of the sea-wolves.

Source: http://www.dnoticias.pt/ – March 22, 2007