The Savage Islands or Selvagens Islands ( pt, Ilhas Selvagens ; also known as the Salvage Islands) are a small
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of
Madeira
)
, anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira")
, song_type = Regional anthem
, image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg
, map_alt=Location of Madeira
, map_caption=Location of Madeira
, subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
, and north of the
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
.
["Ilhas Selvagens (Selvagens Islands)"](_blank)
UNESCO World HeritageSites[Luís Carvalho, ''Nuno Leitão'' (2005)] The archipelago includes two major islands,
Selvagem Grande
Selvagem Grande Island is part of the Savage Islands archipelago, which themselves are part of the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The island () belongs to the northeast group of the Savage Islands, which com ...
and
Selvagem Pequena
Selvagem Pequena Island () is an island in the southeast group of the Savage Islands, Madeira, Portugal. It is the southernmost major island of Portugal (excluding islets). Its fauna and flora are well-preserved due to lack of human interference.
...
, each surrounded by a cluster of islets and reefs, with the total area of .
The archipelago is administered as part of the Portuguese municipality of
Funchal
Funchal () is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Madeira, Autonomous Region of Madeira, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. The city has a population of 105,795, making it the sixth largest city in Portugal. Because of ...
, belongs to the Madeiran
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
of
Sé, and is the
southernmost point of Portugal.
It was designated a natural reserve in 1971, recognising its role as a very important
nesting point for several species of birds. Since then, the susceptible bird populations (namely
Cory's shearwater
Cory's shearwater (''Calonectris borealis'') is a large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It breeds colonially of rocky islands in the eastern Atlantic. Outside the breeding season it ranges widely in the Atlantic. It was formerly ...
) and nearby waters have been more closely protected by the Portuguese government. Given its status, remoteness and few fresh water sources, the archipelago is today largely uninhabited. The only residents year-round are stationed on Selvagem Grande Island, which includes reserve staff and scientists conducting research on wildlife.
Two rangers are also usually resident on Selvagem Pequena between May and October.
In May 2016, a
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...
scientific expedition prompted the extension of the marine reserve.
Geography
![Southern Savage Islands, Atlantic Ocean](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Southern_Savage_Islands%2C_Atlantic_Ocean.jpg)
The Savage Islands are part of
Macaronesia
Macaronesia (Portuguese: ''Macaronésia,'' Spanish: ''Macaronesia'') is a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the North Atlantic, off the coasts of Africa and Europe. Each archipelago is made up of a number of List of islands in the At ...
, the name used to designate the island groups of the
North Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
, near
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
and off the coast of
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...
in
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
. The archipelago lies about from
Madeira
)
, anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira")
, song_type = Regional anthem
, image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg
, map_alt=Location of Madeira
, map_caption=Location of Madeira
, subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
, and from the
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
. The islands are considered to be a ''column branch'' that extends from the Canary Islands at a depth. The total land area of the Savage Islands is .
With little fresh water and surrounded by dangerous reefs (which makes limited access difficult), the archipelago consists of two major islands and several islets, in two groups about apart, designated:
* Northeast Group – includes the main island of
Selvagem Grande
Selvagem Grande Island is part of the Savage Islands archipelago, which themselves are part of the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The island () belongs to the northeast group of the Savage Islands, which com ...
() and three small islets: Sinho Islet (Portuguese: ''Ilhéu Sinho''), Palheiro do Mar, and Palheiro da Terra.
* Southwest Group – including the main island of
Selvagem Pequena
Selvagem Pequena Island () is an island in the southeast group of the Savage Islands, Madeira, Portugal. It is the southernmost major island of Portugal (excluding islets). Its fauna and flora are well-preserved due to lack of human interference.
...
() and
Fora Islet
Fora Islet (Portuguese: ("outer islet")) is an uninhabited Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean, forming part of the Savage Islands, a dependant archipelago of the autonomous region of Madeira.
It lies about 300 kilometres from Madeira and 16 ...
(Portuguese: ''Ilhéu de Fora'', ), also called Great Piton and Little Piton respectively,
it is surrounded by a group of very small islets (''Alto, Comprido'' and ''Redondo'') and a group collectively known as the Northern Islets (Portuguese: ''Ilhéus do Norte'').
The geological history of the archipelago can be traced back to the
Opening of the North Atlantic Ocean
The opening of the North Atlantic Ocean is a geological event that has occurred over millions of years, during which the supercontinent Pangea broke up. As modern-day Europe (Eurasian plate) and North America (North American Plate) separated durin ...
200 mya in the end of the
Triassic
The Triassic ( ) is a geologic period and system which spans 50.6 million years from the end of the Permian Period 251.902 million years ago ( Mya), to the beginning of the Jurassic Period 201.36 Mya. The Triassic is the first and shortest period ...
period.
The islands' physical characteristics are the consequences of mountain-forming and volcanic forces that occurred between 60 and 70 million years ago, typical of many of the islands of
Macaronesia
Macaronesia (Portuguese: ''Macaronésia,'' Spanish: ''Macaronesia'') is a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the North Atlantic, off the coasts of Africa and Europe. Each archipelago is made up of a number of List of islands in the At ...
. The islands were created during the
Oligocene
The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but the ...
period 29 million years ago, from a large submarine volcano generated by the
Canary hotspot
The Canary hotspot, also called the Canarian hotspot, is a hotspot and volcanically active region centred on the Canary Islands located off the north-western coast of Africa. Hypotheses for this volcanic activity include lithosphere extension perm ...
and shaped by erosion and marine sedimentation. The larger islands and islet (Grande, Pequena and Fora, respectively) are the remnants of the peaks of these submarine mounts, and although located north of the Canaries, they were never connected to the African continent or any other continental landmass.
The archipelago had 2 historic magmatic activity periods, one 29.5 mya and the other one 3.4 mya and two significant hiatuses between eruptions, the first lasted 12 million years and the second lasted 4.6 million years, a unique occurrence to oceanic
volcanic islands
Geologically, a high island or volcanic island is an island of volcanic origin. The term can be used to distinguish such islands from low islands, which are formed from sedimentation or the uplifting of coral reefs (which have often formed ...
.
The islands themselves are crossed by many
calcareous
Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.
In zoology
''Calcareous'' is used as an adje ...
faults, some marbleised, and made of
basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
ic rock, ash, and other volcanic materials. On Selvagem Grande there are remnants of extinct cones, such as Atalaia, Tornozelos and Cabeço do Inferno.
Other areas are sand covered from extensive aeolian, fluvial and marine erosion;
headlands include Atalaia and Leste on Selvagem Grande, and Norte, Oeste, Leste and Garajaus on Selvagem Pequena.
Beaches are uncommon in the islands, although Selvagem Pequena has some beaches of cobbles and coarse and medium sands.
Climate
![Farol selvagem grande](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Farol_selvagem_grande.jpg)
Though only as recently as 2016 was a meteorological station installed by
IPMA on Selvagem Grande, the islands are regarded as having a mild subtropical
desert climate
The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk''), is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...
: ''BWh''), with temperatures warmer than those of Madeira. Due to their small size, the surrounding Atlantic and other exterior factors dictate the weather patterns felt throughout the year. Both
diurnal and seasonal temperature variation are very low. The lack of any significant mountain range diminishes the amount of
orographically induced precipitation and its exposure to the cool
Canary Current
The Canary Current is a wind-driven surface current that is part of the North Atlantic Gyre. This eastern boundary current branches south from the North Atlantic Current and flows southwest about as far as Senegal where it turns west and later jo ...
prevents the formation of
convective clouds for most of the year. Summers hover between during the day and during the night, and winters average around during the day and during the night.
Saharan dust
Saharan dust is an aeolian mineral dust from the Sahara desert, the largest hot desert in the world. The desert spans just over 9 million square kilometers, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, from the Mediterranean sea to the Niger River va ...
can occasionally come into contact with the islands, bringing much hotter temperatures.
Winds blowing from south-west can also bring exceptionally heavy rainfall. The dominant wind direction is Northeast (NE).
In the past these islands would have had a higher level of moisture than they do now, which may justify the presence of a large number of fossil shells of land snails (''
Theba macandrewiana
''Theba macandrewiana'' is a species of land snail of the family Helicidae, endemic to the Savage Islands of Portugal. Its shell is around in length.
Distribution and habitat
It is present in the three islands (Selvagem Grande, Selvagem Pequena ...
'') on the plateau of Selvagem Grande.
Fauna and flora
The scientific and natural interest of this tiny group of islands lies in its marine
biodiversity
Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...
, its unique
flora
Flora is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous) native plants. Sometimes bacteria and fungi are also referred to as flora, as in the terms '' gut flora'' or '' skin flora''.
E ...
and
fauna
Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is '' funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as '' biota''. Zoo ...
and many avian species that breed annually on its rock cliffs or use them on their stopover on normal migratory patterns.
The Selvagens Islands and their surrounding waters present pristine marine and terrestrial communities, with many of its ecosystems in an unaltered state (such as in
Selvagem Pequena
Selvagem Pequena Island () is an island in the southeast group of the Savage Islands, Madeira, Portugal. It is the southernmost major island of Portugal (excluding islets). Its fauna and flora are well-preserved due to lack of human interference.
...
and
Ilhéu de Fora) and habitat for a wide variety of endemic species and species in an
unfavorable state of conservation, they are a unique example of the Macaronesian biogeographical region biota.
The archipelago has the highest density (per 100 km) of exclusive endemic terrestrial plants of the
Macaronesian Region
Macaronesia (Portuguese: ''Macaronésia,'' Spanish: ''Macaronesia'') is a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the North Atlantic, off the coasts of Africa and Europe. Each archipelago is made up of a number of Atlantic oceanic islands ...
and the lowest number of exotic terrestrial plants taxa (17) of the
Madeira Region.
Although commercial tours of the islands and their
biomes
A biome () is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader ...
are available, all visitors require authorisation from the Madeira Nature Park, the regional environmental authority.
Birds
![Ermitas selvagem](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Ermitas_selvagem.jpg)
Selvagens Islands are one of the most important breeding areas for seabirds of Macaronesia and the North Atlantic, offering conditions that are unique in all the world.
About 3% of the birds species are resident species, the remaining are migratory species. The abundance of birds on the islands, at one time, made the islands an attractive hunting area for peoples of the region. At the end of the 19th century the German naturalist Ernst Schmitz noted that 20–22,000 Cory's shearwaters were hunted in September or October in the islands; the hunts continued until 1967. Madeiran expeditions to the islands were responsible for the killing of juvenile birds for food, while their
down was used to stuff pillows and comforters.
Presently the islands are home or stopover for:
Cory's shearwater
Cory's shearwater (''Calonectris borealis'') is a large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It breeds colonially of rocky islands in the eastern Atlantic. Outside the breeding season it ranges widely in the Atlantic. It was formerly ...
s (>30,000),
white-faced storm-petrel
The white-faced storm petrel (''Pelagodroma marina''), also known as white-faced petrel is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus ''Pelagodroma''.
Description
The white-faced ...
(>80,000),
Bulwer's petrel
Bulwer's petrel (''Bulweria bulwerii'') is a small petrel in the family Procellariidae that is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is named after the English naturalist James Bulwer.
Taxonomy ...
(approximately 4000),
North Atlantic little shearwater
The Barolo shearwater (''Puffinus baroli''), also known as the North Atlantic little shearwater or Macaronesian shearwater, is a small shearwater which breeds in the Azores and Canaries of Macaronesia in the North Atlantic Ocean. The English na ...
(1400),
Madeiran storm-petrel
The band-rumped storm petrel, Madeiran storm petrel, or Harcourt's storm petrel (''Hydrobates castro'') is of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae.
Description
The band-rumped storm petrel is 19–21 cm in length with a 43–46 cm wi ...
(1500),
yellow-legged gull
The yellow-legged gull (''Larus michahellis'') is a large gull found in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, which has only recently achieved wide recognition as a distinct species. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of either the Casp ...
(50),
common tern
The common tern (''Sterna hirundo'') is a seabird in the family Laridae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, its four subspecies breeding in temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory ...
(>60),
roseate tern
The roseate tern (''Sterna dougallii'') is a species of tern in the family Laridae. The genus name ''Sterna'' is derived from Old English "stearn", "tern", and the specific ''dougallii'' refers to Scottish physician and collector Dr Peter McDoug ...
(<5) and
Berthelot's pipit
Berthelot's pipit (''Anthus berthelotii'') is a small passerine bird which breeds in Madeira and the Canary Islands. It is a common resident in both archipelagos.
Berthelot's pipit is found in open country. The nest is on the ground, with 3-5 ...
(the only resident bird species);
which are subjects of annual scientific expeditions. Many of these species are vulnerable to other local predator bird species, like the yellow-legged gull, which will consume both eggs and chicks (the
white-faced storm-petrel
The white-faced storm petrel (''Pelagodroma marina''), also known as white-faced petrel is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus ''Pelagodroma''.
Description
The white-faced ...
and
Bulwer's petrel
Bulwer's petrel (''Bulweria bulwerii'') is a small petrel in the family Procellariidae that is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is named after the English naturalist James Bulwer.
Taxonomy ...
are primarily susceptible). The islands are home to the largest known breeding colony in the world of Cory's shearwater and the only site in the Atlantic where
Swinhoe's storm petrel
Swinhoe's storm petrel or Swinhoe's petrel (''Hydrobates monorhis'') is a small, all-brown seabird of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae.
Etymology
The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek. ''Hydrobates'' is from ''hydro'' "water", a ...
can be regularly found.
The Selvagens archipelago has been recognised as an
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird populations.
IBA was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife Int ...
(IBA) by
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...
because of its
seabird
Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same enviro ...
colonies
In modern parlance, a colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule. Though dominated by the foreign colonizers, colonies remain separate from the administration of the original country of the colonizers, the '' metropolitan state'' ...
.
Sealife
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau, (, also , ; 11 June 191025 June 1997) was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker and author. He co-invented the first successful Aqua-Lung, open-circuit SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus). Th ...
once found what he believed were "the cleanest waters in the world" around this minor archipelago; there is an abundance of marine activity, much endemic to the environment, including the
barred hogfish, puffer fish (
Tetraodontidae
Tetraodontidae is a family of primarily marine and estuarine fish of the order Tetraodontiformes. The family includes many familiar species variously called pufferfish, puffers, balloonfish, blowfish, blowies, bubblefish, globefish, swellfis ...
),
sea spider
Sea spiders are marine arthropods of the order Pantopoda ( ‘all feet’), belonging to the class Pycnogonida, hence they are also called pycnogonids (; named after ''Pycnogonum'', the type genus; with the suffix '). They are cosmopolitan, fou ...
and many species of
sea urchin
Sea urchins () are spiny, globular echinoderms in the class Echinoidea. About 950 species of sea urchin live on the seabed of every ocean and inhabit every depth zone from the intertidal seashore down to . The spherical, hard shells (tests) of ...
. At depth of about the waters around the islands are teeming with algae and many migratory species of common fish, routinely migrating from the islands of
Cape Verde
, national_anthem = ()
, official_languages = Portuguese
, national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole
, capital = Praia
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, demonym ...
, Madeira and the Canaries.
Out of eight total species of sea turtle in the world, five of them occur in Selvagens Islands waters. The most frequent is the
loggerhead turtle
The loggerhead sea turtle (''Caretta caretta'') is a species of oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around in carapace length when full ...
, followed by
Kemp's ridley sea turtle
Kemp's ridley sea turtle (''Lepidochelys kempii''), also called the Atlantic ridley sea turtle, is the rarest species of sea turtle and is the world's most endangered species of sea turtle. It is one of two living species in the genus '' Lepido ...
,
Hawksbill sea turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle (''Eretmochelys imbricata'') is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Eretmochelys''. The species has a global distribution, that is largel ...
,
Green sea turtle
The green sea turtle (''Chelonia mydas''), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle or Pacific green turtle, is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Chelonia''. Its range exten ...
and
Leatherback sea turtle
The leatherback sea turtle (''Dermochelys coriacea''), sometimes called the lute turtle or leathery turtle or simply the luth, is the largest of all living turtles and the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile, reaching lengths of up to and weights ...
.
A total of 10
cetacea
Cetacea (; , ) is an infraorder of aquatic mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Key characteristics are their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape, often large size and exclusively carnivorous diet. They propel them ...
n species are recorded for Selvagens Islands surrounding waters, including some with a "Vulnerable" or "Threatened" global conservation statuses according to IUCN list of threatened species such as
fin whales
The fin whale (''Balaenoptera physalus''), also known as finback whale or common rorqual and formerly known as herring whale or razorback whale, is a cetacean belonging to the parvorder of baleen whales. It is the second-longest species of ceta ...
,
sperm whales
The sperm whale or cachalot (''Physeter macrocephalus'') is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the Genus (biology), genus ''Physeter'' and one of three extant species in the s ...
,
bottlenose dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins are aquatic mammals in the genus ''Tursiops.'' They are common, cosmopolitan members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Molecular studies show the genus definitively contains two species: the common ...
,
common dolphins
The common dolphin (''Delphinus delphis'') is the most abundant cetacean in the world, with a global population of about six million. Despite this fact and its vernacular name, the common dolphin is not thought of as the archetypal dolphin, with ...
,
short-finned pilot whales
The short-finned pilot whale (''Globicephala macrorhynchus'') is one of the two species of cetaceans in the genus '' Globicephala'', which it shares with the long-finned pilot whale (''G. melas''). It is part of the oceanic dolphin family (Delp ...
,
Atlantic spotted dolphins,
pygmy sperm whale
The pygmy sperm whale (''Kogia breviceps'') is one of two extant species in the family Kogiidae in the sperm whale superfamily. They are not often sighted at sea, and most of what is known about them comes from the examination of stranded spec ...
,
sei whale
The sei whale ( , ; ''Balaenoptera borealis'') is a baleen whale, the third-largest rorqual after the blue whale and the fin whale. It inhabits most oceans and adjoining seas, and prefers deep offshore waters. It avoids polar and tropical ...
,
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale ( Brooder's), or the Bryde's whale complex, putatively comprises three species of rorqual and maybe four. The "complex" means the number and classification remains unclear because of a lack of definitive information and research ...
and a non-confirmed
beaked whale
Beaked whales (systematic name Ziphiidae) are a family of cetaceans noted as being one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance. Only three or four of the 24 species are reasonably well-k ...
species, but many others are expected to be discovered. The sub-tropical geographical position of Selvagens Islands puts it at the limit of the northern distribution range of many tropical oceanic cetaceans species and at the southern limit of species from more temperate latitudes.
Despite having a much smaller submerged area with depths less than than other larger Macaronesian archipelagos, the islands have remarkable fish species richness.
There are 88 known species of coastal fish, some of them included in endangered and vulnerable status such as the
dusky grouper
''Epinephelus marginatus'' (), the dusky grouper, yellowbelly rock cod or yellowbelly grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the an ...
, the
Island grouper or the
barred hogfish. 27.3% of fish are from the tropical eastern Atlantic Ocean, 10.2% from temperate waters and 6.8% from subtropical waters.
Other animals
Ten terrestrial vertebrates are known to live on these islands. Two terrestrial reptiles, ''Tarentola boettgeri bischoffi'', a subspecies of
Boettger's wall gecko
Boettger's wall gecko (''Tarentola boettgeri''), also commonly known as the Gran Canaria gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is native to the Canary Islands and the Savage Islands. There are three recogniz ...
and ''Teira dugesii selvagensis'', a subspecies of
Madeiran wall lizard
The Madeiran wall lizard (''Teira dugesii'') is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Teira''. The species is endemic to the Madeira Archipelago, Portugal. In the Azores, this lizard has become natur ...
, are exclusive to Selvagens Islands.
The islands are the only terrestrial mammal-free archipelago in the
Macaronesia
Macaronesia (Portuguese: ''Macaronésia,'' Spanish: ''Macaronesia'') is a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the North Atlantic, off the coasts of Africa and Europe. Each archipelago is made up of a number of List of islands in the At ...
of the North Atlantic.
The Selvagens archipelago is a hotspot of endemic terrestrial
arthropods
Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a Segmentation (biology), segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Arthropoda. They are distinguished by their jointed limbs and Arth ...
. There are about 219 species and subspecies of terrestrial invertebrates, 92% accounting for
arthropods
Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a Segmentation (biology), segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Arthropoda. They are distinguished by their jointed limbs and Arth ...
. About 20% of the whole taxa is endemic to the islands. Some endemic species include the sea snails ''
Adeuomphalus marbisensis'', ''
Sticteulima lata'', ''
Alvania dijkstrai
''Alvania dijkstrai'' is a species of minute sea snail in the family Rissoidae endemic to the Savage Islands of Portugal.
Description
It has an ovate shell, in height and in length with a thin outer lip. Sometimes two rows of very vague, light ...
'', ''
Alvania freitasi
''Alvania freitasi'' is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk or micromollusk in the family Rissoidae
Rissoidae is a large family of very small and minute sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the sup ...
'', ''
Alvania harrietae
''Alvania harrietae'' is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk or micromollusk in the family Rissoidae
Rissoidae is a large family of very small and minute sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the su ...
'', ''
Atlanta selvagensis
''Atlanta selvagensis'' is a species of sea snail, a holoplanktonic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Atlantidae
Atlantidae is a family of sea snails, holoplanktonic gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha.
According to taxo ...
'', ''
Manzonia boucheti'', ''
Osilinus atratus selvagensis'' and the land snail ''
Theba macandrewiana
''Theba macandrewiana'' is a species of land snail of the family Helicidae, endemic to the Savage Islands of Portugal. Its shell is around in length.
Distribution and habitat
It is present in the three islands (Selvagem Grande, Selvagem Pequena ...
''.
Other terrestrial invertebrates endemic to the islands include three species of
Cossoninae
Cossoninae is a true weevil subfamily in the family Curculionidae.
Tribes
* Acamptini LeConte, 1876
* Acanthinomerini Voss, 1972
* Allomorphini Folwaczny, 1973
* Aphyllurini Voss, 1955
* Araucariini Kuschel, 1966
* Choerorhinini Folw ...
, two species of
spider beetles
Spider beetles make up the subfamily Ptininae, in the family Ptinidae. There are approximately 70 genera and 600 species in the subfamily, with about 12 genera and 70 species in North America north of Mexico.
Spider beetles have round bodies wi ...
,
Cryptorhynchinae
Cryptorhynchinae is a large subfamily of weevils ( Curculionidae), with some 6000 species. They are found in most zoogeographic regions although they are most diverse in the Neotropics, Australia and Oceania.
They are distinguished by having th ...
and
Malachiinae
Malachiinae is a subfamily of beetles of the family Melyridae and having a global distribution.
Description
Malachiinae have peculiar orange structures along the sides of the abdomen, which may be everted and saclike or withdrawn into the body ...
and a species of
Bean weevil
The bean weevils or seed beetles are a subfamily (Bruchinae) of beetles, now placed in the family Chrysomelidae, though they have historically been treated as a separate family. They are granivores, and typically infest various kinds of seeds ...
,
Click beetle
Elateridae or click beetles (or "typical click beetles" to distinguish them from the related families Cerophytidae and Eucnemidae, which are also capable of clicking) are a family of beetles. Other names include elaters, snapping beetles, spr ...
,
Thrips
Thrips ( order Thysanoptera) are minute (mostly long or less), slender insects with fringed wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts. Different thrips species feed mostly on plants by puncturing and sucking up the contents, although a few are ...
,
Harpalinae
Harpalinae is a huge subfamily of ground beetles that contains 20,000 species or ~6,400 spp. in 24 tribes worldwide, according to others. A rarely used common name for the subfamily is the harp beetles. The Harpalinae contain the most apomorphic ...
,
Pterostichinae
Pterostichinae is a subfamily of ground beetles (family Carabidae). It belongs to the advanced harpaline assemblage, and if these are circumscribed ''sensu lato'' as a single subfamily, Pterostichinae are downranked to a tribe Pterostichini. How ...
,
Lamiinae
Lamiinae, commonly called flat-faced longhorns, are a subfamily of the longhorn beetle family (Cerambycidae). The subfamily includes over 750 genera, rivaled in diversity within the family only by the subfamily Cerambycinae
Cerambycinae is a s ...
,
Paederinae
The Paederinae are a subfamily of the Staphylinidae, rove beetles.
The Paederinae include two tribes, Paederini and Pinophilini. This insect is commonly known as Tomcat.
Three of the genera of a subtribe of the Paederini are associated with a ...
,
Trogossitinae
Trogossitinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Trogossitidae
Trogossitidae, also known as bark-gnawing beetles, are a small family in the superfamily Cleroidea. Many taxa formerly within this family have been removed (as of 2019) to oth ...
,
Julida
Julida is an order of millipedes. Members are mostly small and cylindrical, typically ranging from in length. Eyes may be present or absent, and in mature males of many species, the first pair of legs is modified into hook-like structures. Addit ...
and a recently discovered species of
Aplocnemus
''Aplocnemus'' is an uncommon genus of beetles native to Europe and the British isles belonging to the family Rhadalidae, and formerly in the Melyridae.
Species
* '' Aplocnemus abietum'' Kiesenwetter, 1859
* '' Aplocnemus acutangulus'' Schilsky ...
.
The current number of known endemic species and subspecies is certainly a poor estimate of its real number.
Plantlife
![Euphorbia anachoreta 3c](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Euphorbia_anachoreta_3c.JPG)
As a consequence of limited introduction, the terrestrial flora has an outstanding interest. More than 100 species of indigenous plants have been catalogued (most creeping plants and bushes). These plants are similar in many respects to indigenous species on the islands of Madeira and the Canaries, which are better suited to dry arid environments. Germination of these species occurs immediately and briefly after annual showers, and include:
''Lotus glaucus'' subsp. ''salvagensis'', ''
Scilla madeirensis
''Scilla madeirensis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Madeira and the Savage Islands
The Savage Islands or Selvagens Islands ( pt, Ilhas Selvagens ; also known as the Salvage Islands) are a small Portug ...
'', ''Monizia edulis'', ''Erysimum arbuscula'', ''Misopates salvagense'', ''Urtica portosanctana'', ''Asparagus nesiotes'', ''Autonoe madeirensis'', among others.
Some
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
species to the archipelago include: ''Argyranthemum thalassophilum'', ''Monanthes lowei'' and ''
Euphorbia anachoreta
''Euphorbia anachoreta'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae, endemic to the Fora Islet of the Savage Islands. This species has been considered a Critically Endangered species due to its highly restricted population size. ...
'' and 2 subspecies of ''Lobularia canariensis''.
Selvagem Pequena and the Fora Islet are the richest floral repositories, since they were never populated by non-indigenous animals or plants. For a period, some indigenous species (primarily ''
Roccella tinctoria
''Roccella tinctoria'' is a lichenised species of fungus in the genus ''Roccella'', homotypic synonym of ''Lecanora tinctoria'' (DC.) Czerwiak., 1849. It was first described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1805. It has the following varietie ...
'' and other lichens) were harvested from the islands to support the dye industry of Europe, primarily to
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
and
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...
in the 15th and 16th centuries, but these adventures were discontinued later.
History
Diogo Gomes de Sintra discovered the islands by chance in 1438. Although the
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
had been inhabited by the
Guanches
The Guanches were the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean some west of Africa.
It is believed that they may have arrived on the archipelago some time in the first millennium BCE. The Guanches were the only nativ ...
, humans are not known to ever have set foot on the Madeira archipelago or the Savage Islands before the
Portuguese discoveries
Portuguese maritime exploration resulted in the numerous territories and maritime routes recorded by the Portuguese as a result of their intensive maritime journeys during the 15th and 16th centuries. Portuguese sailors were at the vanguard of Eu ...
and expansion.
[ Consequently, this island group presented itself to Portuguese navigators uninhabited.
The first attempted settlement of the islands occurred around 1438 by the Portuguese, although few details remain of this endeavour. The oldest extant description of the colonisation was written around 1463 by the Portuguese mariner Diogo Gomes de Sintra. Gomes wrote that the islands were used to collect , as a base for red paint/dyes; referred to the ]lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.[Roccellaceae
The Roccellaceae are a family of fungi in the order Arthoniomycetes. Most taxa are lichenized with green algae, although some are lichenicolous, growing on other lichens.
Genera
, Species Fungorum (in the Catalogue of Life) accepts 47 genera an ...]
and Parmeliaceae
The Parmeliaceae is a large and diverse family of Lecanoromycetes. With over 2700 species in 71 genera, it is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi. The most speciose genera in the family are the well-known groups: '' Xanthoparmelia'' ( 822 ...
.[ In those days, the islands of the Atlantic (the ]Azores
)
, motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace")
, anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores")
, image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg
, map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union
, map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...
and Madeira) belonged to Henry the Navigator
''Dom'' Henrique of Portugal, Duke of Viseu (4 March 1394 – 13 November 1460), better known as Prince Henry the Navigator ( pt, Infante Dom Henrique, o Navegador), was a central figure in the early days of the Portuguese Empire and in the 15t ...
, the Grandmaster of the Order of Christ (the Portuguese successor to the Knights Templar
, colors = White mantle with a red cross
, colors_label = Attire
, march =
, mascot = Two knights riding a single horse
, equipment ...
in Portugal). However, the islands were generally omitted from the lists of their possessions.
By the 16th century the Savage Islands were held by a family from Madeira, known as ''Teixeiras Caiados''.[ How the islands found themselves under Caiados control is unknown. In 1560 they were given to João Cabral de Noronha.][ After 1717 they are recorded in wills, inheritances, inventories and other documents. Between 1774 and 1831 taxes were paid to the king. The islands were also recorded in the books of the of Funchal.
From the 15th to the 19th centuries, the islands were used for different economic activities, such as collecting ]barilla
''Barilla'' refers to several species of salt-tolerant (halophyte) plants that, until the 19th century, were the primary source of soda ash and hence of sodium carbonate. The word "barilla" was also used directly to refer to the soda ash obtained ...
weed and shells and mollusks. The islands, although uninhabited, were also used as a waypoint for fishing, while goats and rabbits were hunted on Selvagem Grande. Until about 1967, in September or October, there were organised hunts for the chicks of the Cory's shearwater
Cory's shearwater (''Calonectris borealis'') is a large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It breeds colonially of rocky islands in the eastern Atlantic. Outside the breeding season it ranges widely in the Atlantic. It was formerly ...
s for their oil and meat.
The islands have a reputation as pirate treasure islands, and there are many stories of treasure hunting. According to reliable primary documents, at least four times (in 1813, 1851, 1856 and 1948), serious dig attempts were made to recover the supposed treasures but nothing was found.
In 1904 the islands were sold to Luís Rocha Machado. The Permanent Commission of International Maritime Law gave sovereignty of the Savage Islands to Portugal on 15 February 1938.
In 1959, the World Wildlife Fund
The World Wide Fund for Nature Inc. (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the Wo ...
(WWF), now known as the World Wide Fund for Nature, became interested in the islands and signed a contract/promise with the owner, Luís Rocha Machado. In 1971 the Portuguese government intervened and acquired the islands, converting them into a nature reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
. The Savage Islands Reserve was created as part of the Madeira Nature Park; it is one of the oldest nature reserves of Portugal and it also includes the surrounding shelf to a depth of . In 1976, permanent surveillance began, and in 1978 the reserve was elevated to the status of Nature Reserve. In 2002, part of the nature reserve was nominated for UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
's list of World Heritage Sites
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNES ...
: they are currently included in the tentative World Heritage Site list.
In the 21st century, the Savage Islands have a permanent team of wardens from Madeira Nature Reserve
The Madeira Nature Reserve covers about two thirds of the area of Madeira Island. It was created in 1982.
Main Protected Areas in the Madeira Nature Reserve
*Ilhas Desertas Nature Reserve
*Ilhas Selvagens Nature Reserve
*Parcial do Garajau Natur ...
(on Selvagem Grande
Selvagem Grande Island is part of the Savage Islands archipelago, which themselves are part of the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The island () belongs to the northeast group of the Savage Islands, which com ...
there is a permanent research station with two wardens year-round, while Selvagem Pequena
Selvagem Pequena Island () is an island in the southeast group of the Savage Islands, Madeira, Portugal. It is the southernmost major island of Portugal (excluding islets). Its fauna and flora are well-preserved due to lack of human interference.
...
is staffed usually by two wardens between May and October). These and the Zino family (a family of British origin, known as "the guardians of the Savages") are the only permanent human inhabitants of the islands. Selvagem Grande gained a weather station controlled by IPMA (the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere) and is permanently patrolled by the Portuguese Maritime Police to improve safety in navigation and search and rescue, and to prevent pollution and stop illegal fisheries in the reserve.
Disputed territory
Portugal places its southernmost exclusive economic zone claim south of the Savage Islands. Spain formerly objected to it on the basis that the Savage Islands do not have a separate continental shelf, stating that the border should comprise an equidistant line drawn halfway between Madeira
)
, anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira")
, song_type = Regional anthem
, image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg
, map_alt=Location of Madeira
, map_caption=Location of Madeira
, subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
and the Canaries. According to article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities. , 167 c ...
: "Rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf." The status of the Savage Islands as islands or rocks was thus at the core of the dispute. Spain no longer disputes the Portuguese claim since 2015.
Despite the islands having numerous visitors, mostly for scientific purposes, and the fact that several settlements were tried throughout the centuries, today the Savage Islands are a special natural reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or o ...
whose only year-round inhabitants are the wardens of Madeira's Natural Park. Over the years, apart from the EEZ debate, a number of issues pertaining to the Savage Islands led to disputes between the two countries, namely the construction of a lighthouse, the administration of airspace (done from the closer Canary Islands), the right to perform military air exercises, and, most importantly, illegal fishing
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is an issue around the world. Fishing industry observers believe IUU occurs in most fisheries, and accounts for up to 30% of total catches in some important fisheries.
Illegal fishing takes pl ...
and poaching in the archipelago and its vicinity.
19th century
* 1880s – In an 1881 Maritime Signalisation Commission meeting, Spain requested the building of a lighthouse on the islands. The Portuguese recognised the importance of the lighthouse to the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
sea route, but deemed it not a priority at the time. In response, the Spanish Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that "the sovereignty of the islands is unclear".
20th century
* 1910s – In 1911, given the lack of action over the requested lighthouse, Spain said it would build it on its own (and annex the archipelago). After a Portuguese protest questioning what it termed "Spanish confusion" over the issue, Spain said its intention was to reach an agreement "in the most amicable terms". In 1913, the Portuguese Navy
The Portuguese Navy ( pt, Marinha Portuguesa, also known as ''Marinha de Guerra Portuguesa'' or as ''Armada Portuguesa'') is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Port ...
conducted a survey, led by Admiral Schultz Xavier, of the Selvagem Grande Island
Selvagem Grande Island is part of the Savage Islands archipelago, which themselves are part of the Portugal, Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The island () belongs to the northeast group of the Savage Islands, ...
and recommended ''Pico da Atalaia'' as the best location for the lighthouse.
* 1930s – On February 15, 1938, the Permanent Commission of International Maritime Law declared Portugal as the legitimate sovereign over the islands. The Spanish government, however, was in the midst of fighting the Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...
and did not have the opportunity to present its case to the commission.
* 1970s – In 1971, the Portuguese government bought the islands from their previous Madeira
)
, anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira")
, song_type = Regional anthem
, image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg
, map_alt=Location of Madeira
, map_caption=Location of Madeira
, subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
n owner, and decreed the creation of a natural reserve in the archipelago to protect the area from illegal fishing and poaching, which had severely reduced the bird populations in recent years. In 1972, two Spanish civilian boats, ''San Pedro de Abona'' and ''Áries'', were arrested near the islands. In 1975, fishermen from the Canary Islands disembarked in the islands and waved a Spanish flag. In 1976 another Spanish boat, ''Ecce Homo Divino'', was detained for illegal fishing.
* 1996-1997 – On 8 April 1996, Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
F-18
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather, twin-engine, supersonic, carrier-capable, multirole combat aircraft, designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft (hence the F/A designation). Designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part ...
fighters overflew the islands, followed by a low altitude Puma SA-330J flyby over Selvagem Grande
Selvagem Grande Island is part of the Savage Islands archipelago, which themselves are part of the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The island () belongs to the northeast group of the Savage Islands, which com ...
on August 2. On the following October 16th, another F-18 flyby over the reserve was filmed by the Portuguese RTP TV channel, prompting the Portuguese Foreign Affairs Ministry to protest. In May 1997, the Ministry of Defense formally requested the Spanish government to stop training exercises near the natural reserve. Spain agreed, but on 1 August 1997 and 24 September 1997, new flybys by Spanish airplanes took place in the vicinity, prompting vehement protests from the Portuguese authorities which led to a formal apology by the Spanish ambassador to Portugal, after which the flights stopped. After this period, the islands were reinforced with a small Portuguese Navy
The Portuguese Navy ( pt, Marinha Portuguesa, also known as ''Marinha de Guerra Portuguesa'' or as ''Armada Portuguesa'') is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Port ...
detachment, purportedly to help patrol the islands against illegal fishing and poaching. Later in 1997, Spain formally recognised Portuguese sovereignty over the islands.
21st century
* 2005 – 23 June, four Spanish fishing boats were detained south of the islands. A few days later, on 8 July, a biologist and one of the nature reserve wardens in the Selvagem Grande Island
Selvagem Grande Island is part of the Savage Islands archipelago, which themselves are part of the Portugal, Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The island () belongs to the northeast group of the Savage Islands, ...
were threatened with a knife and underwater fishing spear guns by a group of Spanish fishermen. A group of ten Portuguese marines
The Portuguese Marine Corps ( pt, Corpo de Fuzileiros, meaning literally "Corps of Fusiliers") constitutes the Elite Commando Raid Force and Special Operations branch of the Portuguese Navy . It has roles similar to the ones of the USMC Reconnais ...
were placed on the island for a month to put an end to poaching
Poaching has been defined as the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights.
Poaching was once performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes and to supplement meager diets. It was set a ...
of protected species.
* 2007 – June, one Spanish search and rescue airplane flew over the islands at low altitude, prompting the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment to contact its Spanish counterpart over the issue.
* 2013 – 5 July, Spain sends letter officially complaining to the UN that the Savage islands are just rocks, which would invalidate the Portuguese sovereignty over the islands.
* 2013 – 18 July, The serving President of Portugal
The president of Portugal, officially the president of the Portuguese Republic ( pt, Presidente da República Portuguesa, ), is the head of state and highest office of Portugal.
The powers, functions and duties of prior presidential offices, an ...
, Aníbal Cavaco Silva
Aníbal António Cavaco Silva, GCC, GColL, GColIH (; born 15 July 1939) is a Portuguese economist who served as the 19th president of Portugal, in office from 9 March 2006 to 9 March 2016. He had been previously prime minister of Portugal fro ...
with the President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Alberto João Jardim
Alberto João Cardoso Gonçalves Jardim, Order of Christ (Portugal), GCC, Order of Infante D. Henrique, GCIH (, born 4 February 1943) is a Portuguese politician who was the President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Portugal, from 1978 to 20 ...
arrived on the islands on board the Portuguese Navy frigate ''Vasco da Gama'' visit and stay on the Islands as part of a tour to meet residents and officials based there. Aníbal Cavaco Silva
Aníbal António Cavaco Silva, GCC, GColL, GColIH (; born 15 July 1939) is a Portuguese economist who served as the 19th president of Portugal, in office from 9 March 2006 to 9 March 2016. He had been previously prime minister of Portugal fro ...
became the first President to stay overnight on the islands as former Presidents Mário Soares
Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares, GColTE, GCC, GColL (; 7 December 1924 – 7 January 2017) was a Portuguese politician, who served as prime minister of Portugal from 1976 to 1978 and from 1983 to 1985, and subsequently as the 17th presid ...
and Jorge Sampaio
Jorge Fernando Branco de Sampaio (; 18 September 1939 – 10 September 2021) was a Portuguese lawyer and politician who was the 18th president of Portugal from 1996 to 2006. A member of the Socialist Party, a party which he led between 1989 an ...
only visited for a few hours.
*2014 – The head of the Spanish Government, Mariano Rajoy
Mariano Rajoy Brey (; born 27 March 1955) is a Spanish politician who served as Prime Minister of Spain from 2011 to 2018, when a vote of no confidence ousted his government. On 5 June 2018, he announced his resignation as People's Party lead ...
, announced that Repsol
Repsol S.A.
El Nuevo Herald, 2012-05-31[Originally an init ...]
, an Oil and Gas company will conduct surveys to find oil and gas in the surrounding waters of the nearby Canary islands
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
, would begin "very likely" between July and September.
*2014 – 22 September, Canarian secessionists on behalf of the Canarian Nationalist Alternative
Canarian Nationalist Alternative ( es, Alternativa Nacionalista Canaria, ANC) is a Canarian left-wing nationalist political party, born in 2006 after a split of the People's Alternative for the Canary Islands (APC).
Objectives
The ANC seeks indep ...
party, staged a protest on the smaller island of Selvagem Pequena
Selvagem Pequena Island () is an island in the southeast group of the Savage Islands, Madeira, Portugal. It is the southernmost major island of Portugal (excluding islets). Its fauna and flora are well-preserved due to lack of human interference.
...
, to urge the Portuguese government
, border = Central
, image =
, caption =
, date =
, state = Portuguese Republic
, address = Official Residence of the Prime MinisterEstrela, Lisbon
, appointed = President o ...
to intercede with the European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts ...
so as not to jeopardise the fragile and unique biodiversity of the Macaronesia
Macaronesia (Portuguese: ''Macaronésia,'' Spanish: ''Macaronesia'') is a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the North Atlantic, off the coasts of Africa and Europe. Each archipelago is made up of a number of List of islands in the At ...
n islands, before the Spanish government
gl, Goberno de España eu, Espainiako Gobernua
, image =
, caption = Logo of the Government of Spain
, headerstyle = background-color: #efefef
, label1 = Role
, data1 = Executive power
, label2 = Established
, da ...
completely surrenders to the interests of Repsol
Repsol S.A.
El Nuevo Herald, 2012-05-31[Originally an init ...]
. After two days the protestors were transported to Funchal
Funchal () is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Madeira, Autonomous Region of Madeira, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. The city has a population of 105,795, making it the sixth largest city in Portugal. Because of ...
by the Portuguese Navy
The Portuguese Navy ( pt, Marinha Portuguesa, also known as ''Marinha de Guerra Portuguesa'' or as ''Armada Portuguesa'') is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Port ...
.
*2014 – 17 December, Spain sends Dr Luis Somoza Losada to the UN to give a 448-point report asking for the expansion of Spanish territory at the expense of Portugal. After returning to Spain from New York he states "It's the biggest enlargement of Spanish sovereignty since Christopher Columbus". Luis Somoza Losada was a coordinator of a team made up of civilians and military that was commissioned to underpin the ambitious maritime expansion of Spain around the Savage Islands. Conducting 6 surveys of the area on 3 ships: the Hespérides, Miguel Oliver and Sarmiento de Gamboa, he discovered that there was gas in the area and possibly oil.
*2016 – 21 August, the territory starts being permanently patrolled by two elements of the ''Polícia Marítima'', the Portuguese water police
Water police, also called harbor patrols, port police, marine/maritime police, nautical patrols, bay constables, river police, or maritime law enforcement or coastal police are police officers, usually a department of a larger police organizat ...
, stationed on the Selvagem Grande Island
Selvagem Grande Island is part of the Savage Islands archipelago, which themselves are part of the Portugal, Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The island () belongs to the northeast group of the Savage Islands, ...
.
*2016 – 30 August, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Marcelo Nuno Duarte Rebelo de Sousa (; born 12 December 1948) is a Portuguese politician and academic. He is the List of presidents of Portugal, 20th and current president of Portugal, since 9 March 2016. He is a member of the Social Democrati ...
, joined by the Minister for Internal Administration Constança Urbano de Sousa, and the President of the Regional Government of Madeira
Presidents of the Regional Government of Madeira are the heads of government for the autonomous local authority of Madeira, since the Carnation Revolution that installed the democratic Third Portuguese Republic. The list below includes the leader ...
Miguel Albuquerque
Miguel Filipe Machado de Albuquerque (born 4 May 1961) is a Portuguese politician of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the current President of the Regional Government of Madeira. He took office as leader of the PSD of Madeira on 10 January 20 ...
, visited Selvagem Grande
Selvagem Grande Island is part of the Savage Islands archipelago, which themselves are part of the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The island () belongs to the northeast group of the Savage Islands, which com ...
. Rebelo de Sousa remarked that "Wherever the President of the Republic goes, he marks our territory", and justified the voyage by saying that the Head of State must go to every part of the national territory.
See also
* Exclusive economic zone of Portugal
Portugal has the 5th largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) within Europe, 3rd largest of the EU and the 20th largest EEZ in the world, at 1,727,408 km2.[Autonomous Region of Madeira
)
, anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira")
, song_type = Regional anthem
, image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg
, map_alt=Location of Madeira
, map_caption=Location of Madeira
, subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...](_ ...<br></span></div>
* <div class=)
* List of islands of Portugal
This is a list of Islands of Portugal, including islets (Portuguese: ilhéu or ilhote). The islands (Portuguese: Ilha) are listed by region.Coordinates come from articles or GeoNames, unless otherwise specified.
Continental Portugal Algarve Re ...
* Macaronesia
Macaronesia (Portuguese: ''Macaronésia,'' Spanish: ''Macaronesia'') is a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the North Atlantic, off the coasts of Africa and Europe. Each archipelago is made up of a number of List of islands in the At ...
References
; Notes
; Sources
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External links
Selvagens Expeditions
Ilhas Selvagens
{{Authority control
Islands of the Autonomous Region of Madeira
Islands of Macaronesia
Uninhabited islands of Portugal
Volcanoes of Portugal
Funchal
Important Bird Areas of Madeira
Nature reserves in Portugal
Natura 2000 in Portugal
Territorial disputes of Spain