Rare harbour seal roams Ria Formosa lagoon in Algarve

A harbour seal, a species more common in northern waters, has been spotted resting in the Ria Formosa lagoon in the Algarve over recent days. Portugal's ICNF has been tracking the animal, which was first seen near the Berlengas islands and later in Ericeira before reaching the Algarve. It has a visible old wound near its tail but shows no signs of infection, so a rescue is not currently considered necessary. Authorities are monitoring the situation and ask the public to keep their distance and avoid interacting with the seal.