Tourists filmed crossing protective fence in Fanal, Madeira

A video circulating on social media shows a group of visitors, including a child, crawling under a protective wire fence in the Fanal area of Porto Moniz, part of Madeira's Laurissilva Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The footage, filmed near a road where a tourism vehicle was parked, sparked widespread criticism online. The Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN) confirmed it repaired the damaged fence and reiterated calls for visitors to respect signage and barriers, which protect endemic flora regeneration and control livestock. The incident reignited debate over inspection and visitor awareness in Madeira's sensitive natural areas.