Hawaiian Monk Seal Updates
Get the latest monk seal updates from NOAA Fisheries in the Pacific Islands.
R2XU is Hook-Free and Back in Action
September 29, 2025
September was a good month for R2XU, as the juvenile male seal was released back to the wild after a life-saving procedure.
In late August, we received multiple calls from community members who reported fishing line trailing from the seal’s mouth. We quickly assembled a rescue team with partners from the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources, The Marine Mammal Center, and community volunteers. On site, we confirmed the seal had likely swallowed a fishing hook and needed medical intervention. The Center coordinated emergency transport via Mauna Loa Helicopters to Ke Kai Ola, the Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital in Kona, Hawaiʻi Island.
Thankfully the hook removal procedure went well, and R2XU was released back on Kauaʻi in early September!
Incidents like R2XU’s, as well as the untimely recent death of 2-year-old female RS34, show the importance of reporting hooked seals as soon as possible.
Hawaiian monk seals are naturally curious and opportunistic feeders. Unfortunately, sometimes easy-looking meals come with strings attached—like a fishing line and hook. These unintentional hookings are a risk that comes with shared ocean spaces—and one we can reduce together with awareness and quick action.
Early intervention gives us the best chance to help, and knowing what to do can save a seal’s life. Follow these tips for fishing around seals and join the ranks of responsible fishermen in the islands.
And remember, call our statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline, (888) 256-9840, any time you spot a monk seal. Together we can help recover this endangered population.
Two Monk Seal Pups Under Care at The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Hospital
August 28, 2025
This has been another banner year for monk seal pupping in the main Hawaiian Islands, with 35 new pups so far. As the peak pupping season winds down, most of these new pups are thriving and exploring the reefs on their own. Two small pups, though, needed extra help. Due to quick action by our team and partners, both are now receiving life-saving care at The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital, Ke Kai Ola, in Kona, Hawaiʻi.
RU28
This summer, well-known survivor RH38 gave birth to her first pup, RU28, on Kauaʻi. Watching RH38 join the ranks of motherhood was a special experience for everyone involved in the mother seal’s historical care at The Center. The pair spent nearly 5 weeks together during the 5–7 week nursing period.
After weaning, we assessed RU28 and determined the pup was underweight and unlikely to survive without intervention. Weight is important because pups rely on their reserves as they learn to feed themselves. We worked with partners to transport RU28 to Ke Kai Ola. The young male is doing great—gaining weight and strength.
RU99
Pup RU99’s parentage is less known. The young pup was first reported alone, with no mother in sight, on the eastern shoreline of Molokaʻi. Based on size, we estimated the male pup was almost 2 weeks old. The absence of a mother was a very serious concern. It’s crucial that Hawaiian monk seal mothers stay with their pups the entire 5–7 week nursing period. Our partners monitored RU99 to see if the mother seal would return. When she did not, we determined a rescue was the pup's best chance at survival.
We coordinated with partners on the ground to collect RU99 for transport to Ke Kai Ola. The pup is responding positively to care and continuing to grow and develop. We may never know who RU99’s mother is, or why the two separated, but thankfully due to quick reporting and response, the pup has a new outlook on life!
Why It Matters
These pups’ stories are powerful reminders of how challenging early life can be for monk seals—and for those working to recover them. We’re hopeful that RU28 and RU99 will continue responding well to treatment so they can be released back into the wild once healthy and ready. We’re also thankful to the partners we rely on who helped rescue them: The Center, Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response, the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, and community volunteers.
How You Can Help
Giving seal mothers and pups space during their nursing period is essential—along with reporting seal sightings. Here are three ways you can help these protected seals:
- Give Hawaiian monk seals space—stay at least 150 feet away from mothers with pups
- Report sightings to the statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: (888) 256-9840
- Spread awareness about respectful seal viewing
Back to the Beach in 2025: Four Successful Seal Rehabilitations
May 12, 2025
Monk seals in need of the “3 Rs”—rescue, rehab, and release—have kept us and our partners busy this year! We’re happy to share that four endangered Hawaiian monk seals are back in the wild after receiving expert, life-saving care at The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital, Ke Kai Ola.
The seals suffered varying medical issues, ranging from malnourishment to physical injuries. Their chances of survival were grim without medical intervention. But thanks to collaborative response efforts and The Center’s medical resources and specialized care, the seals are healthy again and home in their native habitat.
With only about 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals left in the world, we take our responsibility to recover the population very seriously. Rehabilitations like these move us one step closer to our goal of removing Hawaiian monk seals from the endangered species list.
Learn more about these four seals with a new outlook on life!
DT46 and DT48
Our seasonal field camp staff rescued monk seal pups DT46 (male) and DT48 (female) while conducting monk seal research in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The pups were underweight, and their chance of survival through the winter was less than 1 percent. The Center treated them for malnutrition and gastrointestinal parasites. Our field camp staff released them this month on Tern Island in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The pair spent a short time exploring their surroundings before going for the water. Maybe one day they'll run into their recovery companion DT12. Also an underweight pup, she was rescued with the pair and released back to Papahānaumokuākea in 2024. Based on signals from her temporary satellite tag, DT12 has been broadly exploring her surroundings.
Learn more about DT12’s journey
R419
R419 is one of the more severe monk seal medical cases we’ve seen recently. An O‘ahu community member reported the ailing seal, expressing concern about his appearance. When we collected him from the beach, he was severely underweight. The Center treated the male for multiple, infected injuries, some caused by another male seal. R419 had several large abscesses on his back and many smaller ones. He also had traumatic injuries to his right front flipper, causing the loss of a partial middle digit and fractures of 4 of 5 of his digits. The Center treated R419 with antibiotics, deworming and pain medications, and dietary supplements. We and partners released R419 in April. R419 made a remarkable recovery—gaining approximately 100 healthy pounds during treatment!
RS52
Last but not least is the juvenile male monk seal RS52. We and partners rescued RS52 on Maui after observing that he was losing weight at an alarming rate. The Center staff treated RS52 for malnutrition and gastrointestinal parasites. We jointly released him back on Maui in January after he received a clean bill of health. Since his release, RS52 has been sighted along the south shores of Maui. In April, he was also spotted on the island of Lāna‘i, which is where he was born in 2023.
Back to Top ⤒ | More Information
Archived Updates
More Information
More Information
Viewing Marine Life
Watching marine animals in their natural habitat can be a positive way to promote conservation and respect for animals and their environment.
