# Marine mammal incidents and rescues in Brazil & Portugal

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/marine-mammal-incidents-and-rescues-in-brazil-portugal
> Updated: 2026-08-14T10:05:41.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 4.

In early July, a sea lion at Praia Formosa in Madeira, Portugal, bit a tourist and a local swimmer, prompting authorities to warn the public against interacting with wild marine mammals. The same week, a juvenile South American sea lion was rescued from the Canal de São Sebastião on Brazil’s northern São Paulo coast and taken to a rehabilitation centre for treatment. Two weeks later, Brazil recorded further marine wildlife emergencies. A three-metre-long fin whale stranded on Praia do Forte in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, prompting fire-fighters, maritime guards and veterinarians to construct a temporary water containment system and plan its release. In the southern state of Santa Catarina, a severely weakened female sea lion pup was found on Praia do Mar Grosso and transferred to a rehabilitation centre in Florianópolis, marking the first documented sighting of the species on that coast in a decade. Later in July, the same fin-whale incident recurred, with the animal stranded again within 24 hours; responders again built a containment structure, administered medication and prepared a second release at Praia Seca in Araruama. In Laguna, Santa Catarina, the rescued 23.7-kg female sea lion pup received veterinary care before being moved to a rehabilitation centre, confirming the rarity of the species’ presence. In early August, a debilitated juvenile South American sea lion was found on Praia do Satélite in Itanhaém, São Paulo and transferred to the Instituto Gremar in Guarujá for full rehabilitation. The same day lifeguards in Marataízes, Espírito Santo, guided a mother whale and its calf away from fishing nets, preventing entanglement and returning them to open water. On July 30, two South American sea lions—a male rescued in Balneário Gaivota and a juvenile female from Laguna—were released into the ocean at Praia do Moçambique in Florianópolis.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-14: Two sea lions released into the ocean in Florianópolis

Two rehabilitated South American sea lions were released into the sea in Florianópolis, Brazil, after a successful recovery process managed by R3 Animal and partner organizations.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/two-sea-lions-released-into-the-ocean-in-florianpolis

### 2026-08-03: Brazil rescues a sea lion and a whale‑calf on coastal beaches

Brazilian teams rescued a weakened sea lion in Itanhaém and a whale‑calf near fishing nets in Marataízes, moving both to safety and care.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazil-rescues-a-sea-lion-and-a-whalecalf-on-coastal-beaches

### 2026-07-21: Brazil rescues beached fin whale in Cabo Frio and rare sea lion pup in Laguna

Brazilian teams treat a beached fin whale in Cabo Frio and rescue a rare sea‑lion pup in Laguna, marking the first local sightings in months.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazil-rescues-beached-fin-whale-in-cabo-frio-and-rare-sea-lion-pup-in-laguna

### 2026-07-07: Sea lion bites swimmer in Portugal and rescue operation in Brazil

A sea lion bit two swimmers in Portugal's Madeira, causing minor injuries, while Brazil rescued a juvenile sea lion with fishing‑gear injuries for treatment.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sea-lion-bites-swimmer-in-portugal-and-rescue-operation-in-brazil

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Cite as: Marine mammal incidents and rescues in Brazil & Portugal. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/marine-mammal-incidents-and-rescues-in-brazil-portugal