Why is there no wildlife on Madeira?

Lying over 500 kilometers from the African coast, Madeira – about half the size of Hertfordshire – was simply too far over rough seas for land animals to make the crossing, even haphazardly. The total absence of land mammals allowed the Trocaz pigeon to become the royalty of Madeira.



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Madeira's fauna is extremely rich, both as regards vertebrates and invertebrates. This biological heritage, where the numerous endemic species of the archipelago stand out, is of great scientific interest, as well as of great importance from the conservation point of view.

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There are no venomous or dangerous animals on the island. In fact, there are no snakes at all on the island, and the spiders are not venomous. The only venomous spiders are on the Desertas Islands, but not on Madeira. With snakes and spiders out of our way, the only truly dangerous insect for us personally are bees.

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Sharks are widely distributed around Madeira Island with the most abundant species being M. mustelus.

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The patch of land between the Madeira and Tapajós has high primate diversity and is home to several endemic species, such as the Amazon black howler and the white marmoset. This region is the eastern limit of the brown woolly monkey.

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How about Madeira? Geographically (and weatherwise) it's closer to Africa than Europe… just 500km west of Casablanca in fact, though it's technically Portugal and about a three-hour flight from London. Funchal is the island's only real city.

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Oh yes, there are spiders in Madeira and some of them can be quite large. Scary, maybe, but these, too, are completely harmless. The best known is the Hogna maderiana, the Madeira Wolf Spider, sometimes also called the Madeira Tarantula. It is completely harmless, though scary for anyone afraid of spiders.

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Calheta Beach is one of the island of Madeira's few yellow sandy beaches. A peaceful swimming experience is guaranteed by two piers, so you can exercise in the sea all year round. Ribeira do Natal Beach enjoys properties that make it one of the best places for swimming. The transparency of its waters is remarkable.

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Madeira Island has numerous reasons why it stands out as an ideal retirement destination. Its year-round temperate climate, captivating natural beauty, and rich cultural heritage make it an irresistible choice for retirees seeking tranquillity and a high quality of life.

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There are a lot of derelict properties in Madeira, and one of the reasons for this is the complex inheritance laws. Sometimes it is impossible to trace the owners, especially since Madeira has seen so much emigration over the years, and the owners may be anywhere - Brazil, South Africa, you name it.

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There are no venomous or dangerous animals on the island. In fact, there are no snakes at all on the island, and the spiders are not venomous. The only venomous spiders are on the Desertas Islands, but not on Madeira.

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Assessment Rationale: The Desertas Islands (Madeira, Portugal) are the sole home of one of the largest and rarest wolf spider species worldwide, Hogna ingens (Blackwall, 1857) (Araneae, Lycosidae).

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Dolphins, Whales and Sea Lions The coastal waters of Madeira Island, are host to at least nine species of dolphins and ten species of migrating cetaceans. These are protected in the 430,000 km2 Madeiran Marine Mammal Sanctuary. The most commun wildlife are dolphins, whales and sea lions.

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Away from the Hotels, there are countless stray dogs wandering the streets barking night and day. Some of these dogs are just kicked out of their homes and left to their own devices. They walk in front of cars randomly and should not be approached.

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In Madeira, there are three types of fundamental rodent species, namely rats, roof rats and mice. The rat is considered an urban pest; however, it is part of the larger urban pests and peculiar habits, with more aggressive tendencies and a propensity to bite and scratch humans, which could result in infections.

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Just 5km (3 mi) off the coast of the island, the ocean depths can reach more than 3,000m (9,850ft) making Madeira's surrounding waters ideal for whales, dolphins, and a multitude of other marine species to swim through.

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On March 4th, 1930, a sector of the Cape Girão cliff, located in the southern shore of Madeira Island, collapsed into the sea and generated an 8 m tsunami wave height.

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Water: There is plenty of water of an excellent drinking standard. The tap water in Madeira conforms with all EU regulations and it is safe to drink. The water is treated with Chlorine and therefore may taste a little different.

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Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in the Madeira Islands. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

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