Last December I was alone, hidden behind rocks on a pebble beach somewhere on Deserta Grande, one of the three small islands which form the Nature Reserve of the Desertas Islands, 22 km off Madeira Island.

I spent almost twenty-two hours in this particular spot, entranced and delighted at the sight of two adult female monk seals caring and feeding a couple of newborn pups. Again in this breeding season, and for four years now, some seals of the colony have been coming ashore onto this open beach to give birth and rear their pups, completely at ease.

While I was there, filming, taking pictures and a lot of notes in my field book, I also had the opportunity of reflecting upon the story of the monk seals and their time on Earth. It is incredible how a species, a very old species of about twelve million years, eventually became one of the most endangered animals on the planet, even after co-existing with man for many centuries, sometimes in a relationship of mutual trust.

The persecution, the irrational ambition and the negligence of men drove this species to the brink of extinction – and in many areas of its range, continues to do so.

How could this be averted?

Meanwhile, as my mind was occupied by these thoughts, another adult seal approached the beach and, without any hesitation at all, scrambled over the pebbles to join the group that had been there almost three hours, lying in the sun in complete abandon.

It was then that I realised that these particular monk seals were gradually reacquiring an ancient natural behaviour, a behaviour that human persecution and the need for defence and survival had suspended for many years, storing it away in the species’ genetic structure, instinct and memory.

Nowadays, only humans can save the monk seal and for this we need to apply our intelligence, our willpower and our understanding of priority.

The monk seal’s recovery in the Desertas provides clear evidence that if we humans give the species the opportunity and the right to live, then Mother Nature will respond with generosity and wisdom, making redundant the sophisticated and expensive scientific research programmes that too often dominate recovery plans for endangered species.

Life is simple, the important thing is to give Nature a chance.

More and more, we see the encouraging signs of governments and conservationists taking on the cause of the monk seal and pledging their commitment. As long as we can keep up that momentum, then I will continue to be optimistic about the future of the monk seals of Portugal, Greece, Turkey and Cap Blanc. Why? Because the monk seal now has more friends than ever, including people whose valuable efforts are devoted to the recovery of the species. As long as this continues, I think I can safely foresee an optimistic XXI century for this marvellous pinniped.

Henrique Costa Neves, Funchal, Madeira, April 2002

Henrique Costa Neves, until recently Director of the Parque Natural da Madeira, has been personally involved in monk seal conservation since August 1988, when he and his co-workers first landed on Deserta Grande to begin construction of the warden station. In January this year he was appointed environmental councillor for the City Council of Funchal and, aside from his other duties, continues to devote time and effort to the recovery of Madeira’s monk seals.