Hawaiian Monk Seal Updates

RL72’s Release!

April 25, 2022

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We’re happy to announce that Hawaiian monk seal RL72 was released on April 21, 2022, after undergoing surgery to remove an ingested fishing hook. Read about his road to recovery

RL72 spent the past 2 weeks recovering under watchful eyes at The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital and visitor center on Hawai‘i Island, Ke Kai Ola. Veterinarians with the Center and NOAA Fisheries evaluated RL72’s condition and determined the seal was ready for release.

“Our team is thrilled to have returned RL72 to his ocean home after a full recovery from a challenging surgery,” said Dr. Sophie Whoriskey, the Center’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Conservation veterinarian. “Ingested fishing hooks can have potentially life-threatening implications.”

She added that once RL72 was released on the beach, the seal headed straight for the water and swam off.

We and our partners at the Center will continue to monitor RL72’s health and activities with the help of a temporary satellite tag and bleach mark the seal received before release. RL72 has been seen on Maui and Hawai‘i Island in the past. The satellite tag will help us track where the seal goes next. 

To help us monitor RL72 and other endangered Hawaiian monk seals, report sightings to our NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: (888) 256-9840. RL72 can be identified by rear flipper tags labeled “L72” and “L73,” or by the letters “HI” temporarily bleached on his left side.

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Update on the 2022 Pupping Season

April 19, 2022

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We’re excited to confirm that two new Hawaiian monk seal pups were born on Oʻahu last week!

RH92 gave birth to her first-ever pup on the North Shore of Oʻahu. She was first observed with her pup, PO4, on April 13, by our partners Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR). Mother and pup both appear to be healthy and doing well. RH92 was a North Shore pup herself—but she was born on the North Shore of Kauaʻi! In 2016, as a recently weaned pup, RH92 survived an off-leash dog attack. We provided supportive care, administering antibiotics to treat the seal’s puncture wounds, and RH92 made a full recovery. In 2018, she was first sighted on Oʻahu. In 2019, NOAA Fisheries and partners intervened when she swallowed a fishing hook, and were able to successfully remove it from her stomach. After all of these challenges early in life, we’re so happy to see RH92 with her first pup.

Next up is veteran mother RN58 (Luana). On April 14, our partners at the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) observed RN58 had given birth to a pup, PO5, also on Oʻahu’s North Shore. Like RH92, RN58 faced challenges early in life. RN58 was born on Oʻahu’s North Shore in 2013. In 2014, she, too, ingested a fishing hook. With intervention from NOAA Fisheries, she went through a successful surgery to have the hook removed.

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Both pups PO4 and PO5 are currently observed to be healthy and doing well. We, HMAR, and DLNR will continue to actively monitor these mother-pup pairs through the 5 to 7 week pup rearing and weaning period. This is a critical time for these mothers and pups to maintain their bond and ensure healthy development of these new additions to the endangered Hawaiian monk seal population.

Unfortunately, not all pups survive. Sadly, earlier this year, three newborn pups were found deceased on Oʻahu in February and March. In situations where several deceased pups are found within a relatively short time frame, we work to determine whether there is any connection between the deaths. Fortunately, we have not found a link between their deaths, or any indication of a larger issue such as a disease outbreak. Instead, our findings indicate the pups most likely died from coincidental birthing complications.

These three pups were assigned the identification codes RQQ1, RQQ2, and RQQ3. RQQ1 and RQQ2 were born to first-time mothers RJ58 (Kaimana) and RH48 (Lei Ola), respectively. Post-mortem examinations and tissue analysis showed the newborns likely died from dystocia and hypoxia. Dystocia means difficulty giving birth, which can be common for first time mothers of many species, including Hawaiian monk seals. It can cause hypoxia, or insufficient oxygen levels, in the pup, leading to the pup’s death in the birth canal or shortly after birth. RQQ1 also had pulmonary edema, or excess fluid in the lungs.

We do not have confirmation on the mother of RQQ3, though we received reports that an adult female, likely RF34 (Pua), was present near this pup when it was observed deceased. A post-mortem exam indicated that RQQ3 was also likely a newborn pup, and preliminary results did not show a clear cause of death. Further analysis is ongoing, and we will provide updates as they become available.

How Can You Help?

We ask that you please give Hawaiian monk seal mothers and pups plenty of space—at least 150 feet—and avoid disturbing them.  This will ensure the mother remains with her pup and the pup gets the nutrition it needs to develop properly. The public should also be aware that mother seals can be very protective of their young and are more likely to exhibit territorial behavior with a pup. For their safety and yours, please stay behind any fencing or signs and listen carefully to the instructions of our or partner personnel on site. And if you’re on the beach with a dog, please keep the dog leashed for its safety, as well as the seals’.

We appreciate all reports of Hawaiian monk seal sightings. If you see a monk seal, call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: (888) 256-9840. Public reports of sightings help us track the seals’ health and progress!

Learn more about the Hawaiian monk seal and NOAA Fisheries efforts to conserve the endangered species

Hooked Juvenile Monk Seal Recovering After Rescue and Surgery

April 13, 2022

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Thanks to quick responses by NOAA Fisheries, our partners, volunteers, and the public, the hooked juvenile male monk seal RL72 is now hook-free. He is safely rehabilitating at The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital and visitor center on Hawaiʻi Island, Ke Kai Ola.

Members of the public first caught sight of RL72 on Maui’s Kapalua Oneloa Beach the morning of March 30. He had approximately 3–4 feet of monofilament line trailing from his mouth, suggesting he ingested a hook. The public reported the incident to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline and provided photos from a camera zoom lens, which clearly showed both the fishing line and the seal’s flipper identification tag.

Maui staff from NOAA Fisheries and State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) initiated an on-the-ground response. 

Ingesting a hook can be life threatening for a seal, and prompt removal is critical to survival. So NOAA Fisheries, DLNR, The Marine Mammal Center, and the U.S. Coast Guard prepared to provide veterinary and logistical support to capture RL72 from the Maui beach and provide him life-saving medical care at Ke Kai Ola.

A Challenging Rescue

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Rescuing RL72 was no simple matter. The vehicle parking area was far from the seal and up a hill. Rather than try to carry the 400-pound load (RL72 in a transportation cage) across sand, the team decided the boardwalk route was the best option—though this option still required a trek uphill via a short, narrow trail.

The difficulties didn’t end there. The last leg of the route was a staircase that was simply too narrow to fit the seal’s cage and its haulers. Thankfully, the team found a nearby property owner willing to provide an alternate route through a locked easement near the stairs.

Left: RL72 begins his journey to The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital and visitor center, Ke Kai Ola, on Hawaiʻi Island for veterinary care and removal of an ingested hook. Credit: Cindy Coker (NOAA Fisheries Permit #18786). Right: The rescue of RL72 presented logistical challenges, such as maneuvering this long and narrow boardwalk. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Troubleshooting these logistical challenges took the better part of the day. As evening started closing in, the team put their meticulous plan in action. They would capture RL72, carry him to the vehicle, and drive him to the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources facility. NOAA Fisheries staff stayed with the seal overnight, checking in on him every hour to make sure he was OK.

The next day, NOAA Fisheries and partners boarded RL72 on a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 plane, and the seal flew from Maui to Ke Kai Ola on Hawaiʻi Island.

And a Complex Hook Removal

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“The successful effort to dehook RL72 was quite complex and required surgery under anesthesia to remove the hook from the animal’s esophagus,” said Dr. Sophie Whoriskey, the Center’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Conservation veterinarian. “This was an incredible team effort to help give this suffering monk seal a second chance at life and is a testament to the ongoing partnerships to help save this endangered species.”

After the surgery on April 7, the Center’s veterinary experts reported that RL72 was stable, comfortable, and alert. The team noted RL72 is in great body condition and plans to give the seal antibiotics, fluids, and pain medications as he recovers post-surgery. In addition, analysis from a series of blood samples taken during the initial care process showed no signs of illness or disease. No estimated timetable for release has been determined. The seal will be assessed regularly to determine when his recovery from the surgery is complete and release is appropriate.

Since 2014, the Center has rehabilitated and released 37 monk seals, most of which have been rescued from and returned to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as part of the Center’s partnership with NOAA Fisheries The center uses resources in the area to identify seals in need, rescue and rehabilitate them, and give them a chance to return to their ocean home.

Approximately 30 percent of Hawaiian monk seals that are alive today are due to conservation efforts led by NOAA Fisheries and partners. And this happy ending would not have been possible without our partners, as well as the public’s prompt reporting. 

This story is also a reminder to report any seal—even those that do not appear to need help—to the statewide NOAA Marine Hotline at (888) 256-9840. Additionally, we recommend these best practices to reduce injuries to monk seals when fishing.

View more photos of RL72

Peak Season for Pupping Approaching!

March 10, 2022

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The peak season for Hawaiian monk seal pupping is approaching! Although monk seal pups can be born any time throughout the year, most births occur during spring and summer. After giving birth, mother monk seals will nurse their pups for 5 to 7 weeks. During this time, nursing moms can be very protective and may react aggressively to anyone who gets too close. For your safety and the safety of mom and pup, please give the seals plenty of space to nurse and rest. If you see temporary fences and signs erected around mom and pup, we ask that you safely observe them behind the pupping zone. When the seals are outside the zone, please keep at least 150 feet away, especially when they are in the water. 

Once weaned, mother seals abruptly leave their pups. The pups then fend for themselves and learn to forage on their own. It is important that pups are not conditioned to human interaction during this time. Feeding a pup could cause the seal to associate humans with food, which will eventually make it aggressive toward people. While a pup may seem cute and chunky in the beginning, it could accidentally injure people it seeks out when it is older, bigger, and more powerful. In addition, encouraging interactive behavior with pups causes them to lose their wild tendencies and makes it difficult for them to survive in the wild.  

Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered species, with only about 1,400 left in the wild. You can help their numbers grow by keeping your distance and observing from afar. Please report any seal sightings or human-seal interactions to NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840. 

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NOAA and Partners Respond to Hooked Juvenile Seal

February 3, 2022

Juvenile Seal Released After Removal of Ingested Hook

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Thanks to the many partners and community members who assisted, the hooked juvenile male seal is back in the waters where he belongs!

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The seal returned to Oʻahu from Hawaiʻi Island on February 2, 2022, aboard a U.S. Coast Guard C-130. He was treated for an ingested fishing hook at Ke Kai Ola, The Marine Mammal Center’s (the Center) Hawaiian monk seal hospital and visitor center in Kailua-Kona. We released him with assistance from Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR). We also gave the seal a set of flipper tags which will be his lifetime permanent identification (R7AF) and help us monitor him throughout his life.

The veterinary team at the Center removed a large barbed hook attached to 9 inches of wire leader and a “pigtail” swivel. A community member spotted the swivel protruding from R7AF’s mouth and reported it to NOAA Fisheries, enabling us to mount a response.

NOAA Fisheries and HMAR will monitor R7AF for the next several weeks. The public can contribute to monk seal monitoring by reporting sightings of R7AF, and any Hawaiian monk seal, to the statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: 1-888-256-9840. R7AF can be identified by his flipper tags, or by the temporary bleach mark “N2” applied to the fur on his back. Remember to follow Hawaiʻi marine wildlife viewing guidelines for the seals’ protection and your safety.

We are grateful to community members who report monk seal sightings, and to our response partners—the Center, U.S. Coast Guard, HMAR, and Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources for helping us recover this “Species in the Spotlight.” 

We also recommend these best practices to reduce injuries to monk seals when fishing.

View more photos of R7AF being released back to the wild

January 27, 2022

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NOAA Fisheries, with support from response partner Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR), successfully captured a hooked juvenile male monk seal (with temporary bleach mark “N2”) at Hanauma Bay on January 27, 2022. The seal, which had no flipper tags, is currently awaiting transport on a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 to Kailua-Kona for treatment at The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital and visitor center, Ke Kai Ola. 

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The seal was first observed on the Ka Iwi Coastline of O’ahu on January 22, 2022. He had a wire fishing leader and a large swivel protruding from his mouth, indicating he had likely ingested a hook on the other end of the leader. NOAA Fisheries staff responded to evaluate the seal’s condition, but it was not possible to attempt to remove the gear at the time due to logistical constraints. The seal was alert and appeared to be in good body condition, so we applied the bleach mark to the fur on the seal's back to make monitoring him easier.

For the next several days, members of the public and HMAR searched for N2. Meanwhile NOAA Fisheries, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Marine Mammal Center, and the U.S. Coast Guard prepared to provide veterinary and logistical support to treat this seal for potentially life threatening hook ingestion. He was spotted on Rabbit Island on January 24, 2022, but was in an area where it was not feasible or safe to mount a capture response. This changed when he hauled out at Hanauma Bay on January 27, 2022. 

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Anyone who sees an injured or entangled seal should report it to the statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: 1-888-256-9840. Additionally, NOAA recommends these best practices to reduce injuries to monk seals when fishing.

Gunshot Wound is Confirmed Cause of Death for Moloka'i Monk Seal

December 21, 2021

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Through postmortem analyses, we have determined that the young female seal “L11” died of a gunshot wound to the head. She was known as L11 because of the temporary bleach mark that was applied to her fur. She was found dead on Molokaʻi on September 19, 2021. 

Specifically, we found a bullet fragment in association with evidence of severe, lethal trauma. We are waiting on test results to see if L11 had any diseases, but we do not expect the results to change these conclusions.

This makes the third confirmed intentional killing of a monk seal on Molokaʻi in 2021, with several other seal deaths investigated on the island this year. For some, exact causes were inconclusive due to decomposition and other circumstances. 

Hawaiian monk seal deaths on Molokaʻi 1/1/2020–12/13/2021

*Due to similarities to other cases, some seals whose causes of death were deemed inconclusive may have also been intentionally killed and are considered open cases for law enforcement.

We are grateful for the quick response mounted by community members who are part of Hawaii Marine Animal Response, the State of Hawaiʻi, and others. These individuals ensured that L11’s carcass was collected promptly and preserved in fresh condition, which enhanced the quality of postmortem analyses.  

Our Moloka‘i partners are resilient and dedicated stewards of Hawaiian monk seals and other native marine species. We are committed to continuing our engagement with partners and community members to exchange information and support protection of natural resources and cultural traditions on Molokaʻi.

Anyone with information about the deaths of Hawaiian monk seals should contact the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement hotline at (800) 853-1964.

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement may issue rewards to individuals who provide information that leads to an arrest, conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property for violation(s) of the laws and regulations NOAA enforces.

RW22 (Kolohe) Succumbs to Toxoplasmosis

November 22, 2021

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RW22 (Kolohe) arrived at The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital, Ke Kai Ola, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi, on October 6, 2021. The Center’s dedicated veterinary and animal care team immediately began working overtime to care for him as he battled the disease toxoplasmosis. Here at NOAA Fisheries, we have been consulting with and supporting our partners in Kona from afar. It is with heavy hearts that we share the unfortunate news that RW22 passed away on November 17, 2021. At least 15 endangered Hawaiian monk seals have died as a result of toxoplasmosis since 2001.

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Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a protozoal parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, that enters the environment through cat feces. Infection can cause dysfunction in many vital organs, including the brain and nervous system, heart, lungs, muscles, and internal fat tissue. The treatment regimen is intense, with lots of medications aimed at killing the parasite, reducing pain and inflammation associated with infection, and supporting recovery. These treatments require many weeks of consistent care, and the outcome is far from certain. RW22 was only the second monk seal to survive with a toxoplasmosis infection long enough to receive treatment.

Toxoplasma can be shed by both owned and feral cats. If you are a cat owner, the most important thing you can do to help prevent T. gondii from getting into the environment and impacting endangered Hawaiian monk seals like RW22 is to keep cats safely indoors. Every cat that stays inside can be part of the solution, and keeping them indoors is better for the health of both wildlife and cats.

In addition to suffering from toxoplasmosis, RW22 also ingested a significant amount of fishing gear. He regurgitated the fishing gear, or at least most of it, while in the hospital—a very unusual occurrence that allowed him to avoid needing surgery. Examination of the ingested gear suggested that he had swallowed not just one fishing line, but likely multiple hooks and what appears to be part of a lay net. This could be an indication that he had more than one recent fishery interaction. While the fishing gear was not the ultimate cause of RW22’s death, interactions with fishing gear remain another top threat to monk seals. We encourage the public to follow our guidelines for Fishing Around Seals and Turtles. 

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Although NOAA Fisheries and The Marine Mammal Center learned a great deal about caring for seals with toxoplasmosis from RW22 and Pōhaku (RO28)—the first seal to undergo a full course of treatment for the disease—there are still many unknowns. But treating sick seals is not the most effective way to address this threat. We applaud our partners at the Center for their incredible efforts and are very grateful for the work that they do and their dedication to RW22 and the species. Partnerships with organizations like The Marine Mammal Center, as well as efforts from the general public, will be essential to tackling a threat like toxoplasmosis and protecting the health of monk seals and other native species in Hawaiʻi affected by this deadly disease.

RW22 Under Veterinary Care for Toxoplasmosis, Ingested Fishing Gear, and Other Ailments

October 18, 2021

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NOAA Fisheries recently coordinated the transport of a male Hawaiian monk seal from Oʻahu to Hawaiʻi Island for rehabilitation at The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital and visitor center, Ke Kai Ola. NOAA veterinarians determined that the seal, identified as 13-year-old RW22, required long-term care at the Center for ingested fishing gear, lethargic behavior, and apparent weight loss. However, further examinations at the seal hospital revealed RW22 also has the cat-borne disease toxoplasmosis, malnutrition, and a possible corneal ulcer in his swollen left eye. RW22 is currently in stable condition at the Center and is responding well to treatment. 

RW22—nicknamed “Kolohe'' by volunteers and community members—is well known to NOAA Fisheries biologists. He has been hooked three times before, according to NOAA records. NOAA Fisheries staff dehooked him in 2008 and 2012, and RW22 threw a hook on his own in 2020. 

The seal’s current journey to recovery began on October 4, 2021. A member of the public reported seeing a monk seal with a fishing line, swivel, and lead sinker dangling from its mouth, but no visible hook. The seal was also “logging,” or inactively floating in the water for long periods of time. NOAA’s close partner Hawaii Marine Animal Response, along with other community members, later spotted the monk seal on October 6 at Ko Olina’s Lagoon 2. 

NOAA Fisheries staff responded, captured, and transported the seal to the NOAA Inouye Regional Center for evaluation. There, X-rays revealed that RW22 had ingested the gear previously seen coming from his mouth. Due to the seal’s concerning condition, NOAA Fisheries enlisted the help of the U.S. Coast Guard to immediately transport RW22 to the Center. 

Initial blood work at the hospital revealed that RW22 is suffering from toxoplasmosis—a life-threatening disease that has claimed the lives of at least 13 seals since 2004. It is one of the main threats and leading causes of death facing the endangered Hawaiian monk seal population in the main Hawaiian Islands. The disease is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can only reproduce in the guts of cats and is shed into the environment via cat feces. 

After consulting with NOAA Fisheries, the Center’s team has started RW22 on a robust treatment plan for toxoplasmosis. The seal is under daily sedation and is receiving food through a tube to help increase his weight and energy levels. He is also receiving treatment for his swollen eye. 

NOAA Fisheries and The Marine Mammal Center will consider surgery to remove the multiple embedded single-pronged hooks and other gear from RW22’s esophagus and stomach once his condition has stabilized. 

This case is an important reminder to report any injured or entangled seal you see to the statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 1-888-256-9840. If not for the quick reporting by the public, RW22’s story may have taken a more tragic turn (though he is not yet out of the danger zone).

Best Practices and How You Can Help 

NOAA recommends best practices to reduce injuries to monk seals when fishing:

• Take care when casting if a seal is in the area
• Fish with barbless circle hooks
• Clean catch away from seals
• Never approach a hooked seal—they are wild animals 

NOAA also needs the public’s help to reduce the spread of toxoplasmosis, which kills other wildlife—including native bird species—in addition to monk seals. Please remember to:

• Dispose of cat litter in the trash, not the toilet
• Keep pet cats indoors
• Spread the word about this deadly and preventable disease

A Monk Seal's Incredible Journey

Six-year-old Hawaiian monk seal travels 1,300 miles from Kure Atoll to the North Shore of Oʻahu in only 5 weeks.

October 7, 2021

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Oʻahu has a new visitor—and she traveled more than 1,300 miles by sea to get here! On September 22, we received a report of an unfamiliar monk seal with gray-colored flipper tags on the North Shore of Oʻahu. Monk seals from Oʻahu and the other inhabited (main) Hawaiian Islands normally have red-colored flipper tags, so the odd tag color spiked curiosity. Our scientists examined the photos and confirmed the gray-colored tag numbered G89. This gray tag with number G89 revealed the seal's identity: our mysterious visitor was a 6-year-old female, KG54, from Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll). 

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Now that is quite a swim! Hōlanikū is the most remote atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the westernmost site used by the species in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. NOAA Fisheries’ Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program summer field staff last saw KG54 at Hōlanikū on August 14, 2021. Travelling from Hōlanikū to Oʻahu in little more than a month is an impressive journey for a monk seal. That translates into swimming an average of 34.5 miles per day in 5 weeks or less! 

From years of monitoring the population, we know that many monk seals move between neighboring islands and atolls. They sometimes move between the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the main Hawaiian Islands regions. In fact, their ability to island-hop allowed monk seals to recolonize the main Hawaiian Islands in recent decades after they were almost completely wiped out in that region centuries ago. But what makes KG54 special is that she traveled such a great distance in such a short time period. 

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While KG54 is the fastest seal on record to cover such a distance, she is not the first monk seal to embark on such a long voyage. Five-year-old RS00, a female seal from Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) traveled to the main Hawaiian Islands over a period of several years. RS00 left Kuaihelani in 1997, stopped off at Kamole (Laysan Island) in 1998–1999, arrived in the main Hawaiian Islands, and was seen on Molokaʻi and Kauaʻi in 2000. She remained in that area for the rest of her life. Will KG54 do the same? Only time will tell. 

Over the last 5 years, at least 18 seals have journeyed between the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and main Hawaiian Islands regions. They primarily traveled between the southern end of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands chain and the northern portion of the main Hawaiian Islands. They most frequently swam between Nihoa Island and Niʻihau and Lehua Islands, indicating that these are important stepping stones for movement between the regions.

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According to our records, this is the first time we have seen KG54 outside of her birthplace, Hōlanikū. We may never know what prompted this 1,300-mile journey or the path that she took.

One might wonder—do monk seals experience wanderlust? This seal just might.

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Help us track KG54 and other monk seals by reporting your monk seal sightings to NOAA’s Marine Mammal Hotline (888) 256-9840. 

Hawaiian monk seals are one of the NOAA Fisheries “Species in the Spotlight” because of their endangered status and the threats they face. Learn more about the Priority Actions the agency is taking to help Hawaiian monk seals thrive.

Young Female Seal Found Dead on Moloka'i

September 23, 2021

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On September 19, 2021, members of the public found a young female seal dead on the south shore of Molokaʻi. Responders identified her by a temporary bleach mark on her side—“L11”—one of the pups born on the island in 2020.

Due to COVID conditions in Hawaiʻi, NOAA Fisheries will not be able to perform a full post-mortem examination at this time. Once we’re able to do that, we expect to better understand what caused her death.

The incident has been referred to NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement and the State of Hawaiʻi Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE). Enforcement is now investigating six seal deaths on Molokaʻi that have occurred since the beginning of 2021. This is an unprecedented number of deaths over a 9-month time period.

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Those with information about the deaths of these endangered Hawaiian monk seals should share it via:

• NOAA Law Enforcement hotline: (800) 853-1964
• DOCARE hotline:  (808) 643-DLNR
• DLNRTip app

You can share information anonymously for any or all of these options. 

Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, as well as Hawaiʻi Revised Statute 195D. Only an estimated 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals are alive today. Under the ESA, it is illegal to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct with any endangered species.

Please report all monk seal sightings, injuries, and strandings to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840.

Further Analysis Reveals Toxoplasmosis as Cause of Death for RK40

August 9, 2021

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Since our initial post regarding the death of RK40 (Hinakokea), NOAA Fisheries conducted multiple postmortem analyses to investigate the cause of her death. Results from necropsy and immunohistochemistry (lab test to look for markers of disease) indicate that she died from a widespread toxoplasmosis infection. Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a protozoal parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, that enters the environment through cat feces.

Including RK40, 14 Hawaiian monk seals are known to have died as a direct result of this disease. However, because more seals disappear than are found dead, it is likely that toxoplasmosis has caused many more seal deaths. Unfortunately, the majority of those deaths (10 of 14) have been females, which means that we have lost not only those seals, but also their future descendants. A recent study found that toxoplasmosis mortalities are limiting monk seal population growth in the main Hawaiian Islands.

The important thing you can do to help prevent T. gondii from getting into the environment and impacting endangered Hawaiian monk seals like Hinakokea, is to keep cats safely indoors—it’s good for wildlife, and for cats.

Call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840 to report all seal sightings, including sick or injured monk seals.

Find out more about the threat of toxoplasmosis to Hawaiian monk seals:

• The Toll of Toxoplasmosis: Protozoal Disease Has Now Claimed the Lives of 12 Monk Seals and Left Another Fighting to Survive
• The Pohaku Chronicles, a 5-part podcast series telling the story of an adult female monk seal, RO28 (Pōhaku), and her battle with toxoplasmosis.

March 16, 2021

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Three-year-old female Hawaiian monk seal RK40, also known as Hinakokea or Napua, was found dead on March 5, 2021, at a beach near Camp Erdman on the North Shore of Oʻahu. The name Hinakokea was gifted to her by 4th grade students at Hauʻula Elementary School. She was known by community members and volunteers with Hawaii Marine Animal Response to frequent the stretch of coastline between Kaʻena Point and Mokulēʻia. Her cause of death is currently unknown. NOAA Fisheries will conduct a post-mortem examination and will provide updates as they become available.  

Anyone with information on the circumstances surrounding the seal's death should call the NOAA Office for Law Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964.

Please report all monk seal sightings, injuries, and strandings to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840.

RM90 Found Deceased on Windward Side of O'ahu

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July 13, 2021

Since our initial post regarding the death of RM90/Mele, we’ve been pursuing additional analyses to help determine the cause of her death. We were unable to definitively identify the cause because the carcass was heavily decomposed, making subtle findings hard to interpret. 

However, we were able to narrow it down to two possibilities. The intestines were severely twisted, but there was no clear indication (microscopically) that such twisting caused her death; rather, it seems more likely that the twisting occurred post-mortem. The other—and more plausible—explanation is drowning, most likely in a net. The front of RM90’s body had several areas of hemorrhage that support this conclusion, and it is where the available evidence points the strongest. 

In our initial post, we mentioned that we’d been monitoring RM90 due to an external hook in her cheek. External hooks are typically not immediately life threatening, but our team does attempt to remove them if, and when, we can do that safely. Unfortunately, RM90 was seen infrequently, and those sightings occurred in areas where it was unsafe to capture her. While the hook did not directly cause her death, it is possible that it rendered her more susceptible to entanglement—she had already been entangled and disentangled in the month prior to her death.

A monk seal loss is always difficult. This loss in particular is felt far and wide, as many partners (Ke Kai Ola, Hawaii Marine Animal Response, Marine Corps Base Hawaii) in our community contributed to monitoring and caring for her. 

June 7, 2021

NOAA Fisheries regrets to report that one-year-old female Hawaiian monk seal RM90, also known as Mele, was found deceased on May 24, 2021, on the windward side of O‘ahu. Mele, which means “chant or song” in Hawaiian, was gifted her name by third graders at Kamehameha Schools’ Kapālama Campus in Honolulu.

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RM90 had an eventful year, including a recent stint in rehabilitation at The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola hospital for malnutrition. She successfully gained weight and departed with a clean bill of health. She also had a fishing hook in her cheek that was being closely monitored, but she still appeared to be in good body condition when she was last seen on May 17, 2021. We conducted a post-mortem exam on May 25, in an effort to determine cause of death, and will provide updates on the results as they become available. At this time we have no indications foul play was involved.

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Although the hook in RM90’s cheek did not appear to cause her death, it did lead to a brief entanglement in a net in April 2021. Thankfully, this incident was reported immediately to NOAA’s Marine Wildlife Hotline (888-256-9840), and the net was removed by Hawaii Marine Animal Response. To reduce the chances of harmful interactions with monk seals, we encourage the public to follow our guidelines for Fishing Around Seals and Turtles. 

Loli'i Relocation Update

June 11, 2021

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A team of our trained handlers and veterinarians successfully relocated endangered Hawaiian monk seal pup Lōli‘i on Thursday, June 10, 2021. He was moved from Kaimana Beach, in Waikīkī, to a less populated area. We are not announcing the location of his new home in order to further prevent interactions with people. We are happy to report, though, that he is settling in and exploring his new surroundings, like any curious young pup.

We had announced the relocation decision earlier in the week, after an extensive assessment of risks to Lōli‘i’s and the public’s safety. Our desire is that Lōliʻi grow up as a wild seal—with less human interaction—in the company of other wild monk seals. 

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Our team, along with Hawaii Marine Animal Response and other partners, will closely monitor Lōli‘i for the first few months at his new beach. In the meantime, after a job well done, RK96 (Kaiwi) will restore her energy reserves (mother seals don’t eat much—if anything—while nursing!). She’ll then begin a new reproductive cycle. Although monk seal weaning is abrupt, we may continue to see RK96 in the Kaimana Beach area because it’s one of her favorite spots to haul out and rest.

Stay tuned for our full feature story on the relocation effort, coming soon.

Federal and State Authorities Investigating Moloka'i Monk Seal Deaths

May 25, 2021

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NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) and the State of Hawaiʻi Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two endangered Hawaiian monk seals. They were found on the west side of Molokaʻi on April 27, 2021. Post-mortem exam results indicate that both seals died as a result of human-inflicted trauma. There was no indication of disease or other health concerns. These incidents bring the total number of suspicious deaths to at least seven on Molokaʻi since 2009.

The seals were 4-year-old male RJ08 and 3-year-old female RK92. Both were born on Molokaʻi and were known to frequent the west side. The two seals had been sighted in the week prior to their deaths and appeared to be in good health. Those with information about the deaths of these endangered Hawaiian monk seals should contact the NOAA OLE hotline at (800) 853-1964, DOCARE hotline at (808) 643-DLNR, or use the DLNRTip app.

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There is a strong, deep-rooted tradition of natural resources stewardship on Molokaʻi, and we know that news of these deaths will be keenly felt by many on the island. We are grateful to the community and our response network partners for assisting with recovery and transportation of the seals. We continue to be committed to supporting community-based conservation efforts on the island for these native monk seals.

Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, as well as Hawaiʻi Revised Statute 195D. There are only about 1,400 estimated alive today. Under the ESA, it is illegal to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct with any endangered species.

Please report all monk seal sightings, injuries, and strandings to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840.

Male Monk Seal Found Dead on South Shore of Kaua'i

April 27, 2021

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NOAA Fisheries is saddened to report that 3-year old male Hawaiian monk seal R1NI was found deceased April 25, 2021, at a beach on the south shore of Kauaʻi. The cause of his death is currently unknown. R1NI was last sighted April 5, appeared to be in good body condition, and we were not monitoring him for any health concerns. We will conduct a postmortem examination to determine cause of death and provide updates as available.

Please report all monk seal sightings, injuries, and strandings to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840.

Deceased Hawaiian Monk Seals Found on Moloka'i

February 11, 2021

A deceased Hawaiian monk seal was found by personnel from Hawaii Marine Animal Response near La‘au Point, Moloka‘i, on January 29, 2021. Under guidance from NOAA Fisheries, HMAR staff and a State Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officer examined the mummified carcass. They respectfully buried the seal near where it was found.  

HMAR and DOCARE responded to another deceased adult monk seal on February 2, 2021, on the south shore of Moloka‘i. Heavy rain and difficult terrain prevented safe access to the carcass, so retrieving or burying the carcass was not possible. The remains were left in place to decompose naturally. Hawaiian cultural protocols were performed by a member of the community. 

Because both carcasses were severely decomposed and we had limited ability to examine the remains, we have no indication of what caused these seals' deaths. Anyone with information about these or any seal deaths should call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: (888) 256-9840. 

"Entrapment" in Lay Gill Nets Likely Cause of Death for Juvenile Monk Seals

February 3, 2021

Lay gill nets have proven to be one of the top threats monk seals face in the main Hawaiian Islands.

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NOAA Fisheries has completed post-mortem examinations of the juvenile male monk seal RL52 and an untagged juvenile female monk seal. The two monk seals were found dead on Kauaʻi on September 10, 2020, and November 18, 2020, respectively. 

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Both seals were in good body condition and their stomach contents suggest they had recently eaten. There was no evidence of underlying disease—such as toxoplasmosis, which is of particular concern—and no signs of injury. But fluid in the seals’ lungs suggest they struggled to breathe before death. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest that both seals died from being held underwater in a net and unable to breathe. This is referred to as peracute underwater entrapment (and similar to drowning).

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We initially suspected and stated that RL52 had been shot because the seal had numerous small holes in its skin that closely resembled shotgun injuries. However, X-ray imagery and examination of the underlying blubber and muscle tissue showed no evidence of shotgun injuries or other trauma. The small holes were likely caused by scavengers and decomposition.

The causes for seal drownings have historically included entrapment in lay gill nets, entanglement in marine debris, and aggressive behavior by other seals. RL52 and the untagged female seal had no signs of injuries (such as bites or trauma) from other seals. And while we cannot rule out marine debris as the cause of death, we believe lay gill nets are the more reasonable explanation based on past net drowning history in Hawaiʻi and recent reports of lay gill nets set at night in the vicinity.

The use of lay gill nets, which pose significant risks to monk seals, sea turtles, and other protected species, is regulated by the state of Hawaiʻi. Hawaiʻi administrative rules require that lay gill nets may not be used during the period from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. View the list of other state restrictions on the use of lay gill nets in Hawaiʻi.

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Lay gill nets have proven to be one of the top threats monk seals face in the main Hawaiian Islands. While many seal deaths go undetected, net drowning causes roughly 20 percent of known deaths in seals younger than 5 years old. A recent publication describes how natural and human-related causes of death affect the overall Hawaiian monk seal population.

If you have any information regarding the deaths of these seals or observe lay gill nets being used illegally, such as at night, contact DOCARE at (808) 643-DLNR, or use the DLNRTip app. You can also call the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement hotline at (800) 853-1964.

Report all monk seal sightings, injuries, and strandings to NOAA’s Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840.

Reward for Information About Recent Kaua'i Seal Deaths

November 24, 2020

You may receive a reward of up to $20,000 if you provide information about a violation that leads to the issuance of a civil penalty or criminal conviction. 

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The NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) is seeking information about the recent deaths of two Hawaiian monk seals along the shoreline of the Anahola area on the northeast shore of Kauaʻi around September 10 and November 18, 2020. 

"The intentional killing of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal is a violation of federal law,” said Assistant Director Martina Sagapolu of OLE’s Pacific Islands Division. “It is our hope that this reward will encourage someone to provide us with the information needed to arrest and convict those who would commit such a heinous act." 

OLE is investigating the causes of the two recent deaths on Kauaʻi and has sent enforcement personnel to Kauaʻi to investigate. OLE encourages anyone who may have information about the seal deaths to call the OLE hotline: 1-800-853-1964. A reward of up to $20,000 may be paid if you provide information about a violation regarding a monk seal that leads to the issuance of a civil penalty or criminal conviction. 

Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, with about 1,400 estimated alive today. Under the ESA, it is illegal to unlawfully “take,” meaning to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct with respect to any endangered species or wildlife listed on the Endangered Species List. NOAA Fisheries encourages the public to report all monk seal sightings to its statewide hotline: 888-256-9840.

The mission of NOAA OLE is to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations enacted to conserve and protect our nation’s marine resources. Those with information about the death of these endangered Hawaiian monk seals should contact the NOAA OLE enforcement hotline at 1-800-853-1964.

Yearling Monk Seal Found Dead on Kaua'i

September 16, 2020

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NOAA Fisheries is saddened to report the death of RL52, a yearling male monk seal. He was found dead on September 10, 2020, along the Anahola coastline on Kaua‘i. It’s unknown how RL52 died. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) and DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) are currently investigating the matter. RL52 was last seen on August 31, 2020 at North Larsen’s Beach, and he was in good body condition.

If you have any information regarding the death of this seal, please contact DOCARE at (808) 643-DLNR, or use the DLNRTip app. You can also call the OLE hotline at (800) 853-1964.

Please report all monk seal sightings, injuries, and strandings to the Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (888) 256-9840.
 

Monk Seal RJ36 Found Dead with Fishing Line Coming from Mouth

July 15, 2020

RJ36 on a Kauaʻi beach with a fishing line trailing from his mouth. Photo: NOAA Fisheries.

We regret to report the unfortunate death of RJ36, a three-year-old male Hawaiian monk seal on Kauaʻi. On June 22, 2020, a concerned Kauaʻi resident discovered RJ36 in distress. The seal was lying on the beach and appeared to be struggling to breathe. Six feet of fishing line visibly trailed from the mouth and ended in a pigtail swivel, a type of gear commonly used for slide-bait fishing. The concerned citizen immediately contacted the marine mammal stranding hotline. Response staff quickly mobilized, but the seal died before they arrived on scene. The team retrieved the seal's body and NOAA preserved it for a future post-mortem exam. 

Ingested hooks can be fatal for some seals, such as if the hook pierces a vital organ. Fortunately, early public reporting of hooked seals often provides response teams with enough time to successfully administer life-saving interventions. A post-mortem exam will evaluate the role the hook and other potential factors played in RJ36’s death.

RJ36 was born to the well-known female RK30 on the Nāpali Coast in 2017. Over the next 3 years, he became a somewhat regular seal on the south and west shores, easily identified by his red J36 and J37 plastic flipper tags.

NOAA and DLNR encourage the public to follow the guidelines for fishing around seals and turtles. These guidelines include watching your fishing gear closely and temporarily removing it if seals are in the area, never feeding seals, and using barbless hooks. If you do hook a seal, cut the line as close to the animal as possible to remove trailing gear. Report it to NOAA’s marine mammal stranding hotline at (888) 256-9840.

Hawaiian Monk Seal 2020 Pupdate

July 1, 2020

PK1, the first main Hawaiian Islands born pup of 2020.  Born on the island of Kaua‘i. Photo: NOAA Fisheries.

The 2020 Hawaiian monk seal pupping season is going by quickly! Since the beginning of the year, 18 monk seal pups were born in the main Hawaiian Islands: 5 on Oʻahu, 11 on Molokaʻi, and 1 each on Kaua‘i and Hawaiʻi Island. This follows a record-breaking pupping year in 2019, which saw 48 pups born in the main Hawaiian Islands (including Ni‘ihau). 

While monk seal pups can be born any time of year, the number of births peak in spring and summer. Monk seals moms typically nurse their pups for 5 to 7 weeks, feeding them milk rich in fat that will increase their weight from 30 pounds at birth to nearly 200 pounds! During this time, the mother loses a great amount of weight and will abruptly wean the pup before departing to sea to forage and regain her strength. The pup will live off of its body fat as it practices foraging. It will venture farther and farther from the sands of its birth beach, eventually departing to forage at sea. Most females return to the beaches on which they were born to birth their own pups.

Left: Hawaiian monk seal RF34's pup was the first to be born on O‘ahu of 2020. Photo: NOAA Fisheries. Right: Hawaiian monk seal RK48 and pup. Photo: National Park Service.

We usually do not disclose pupping locations. This helps maintain a calm environment with as little disturbance as possible to mom-pup pairs. While monk seals aren't typically considered aggressive, a nursing mom can be very protective. For some mom-pup pairs, this year was quieter than usual, due to the closure of various beach parks between late March and mid-May. Despite a reduced monitoring presence, staff and volunteers continued to perform spot checks, and all pups born during this time weaned successfully.

Beaches have been open for several weeks now. We ask members of the public enjoying Hawai‘i shorelines to view wildlife responsibly, keep dogs leashed, and maintain your distance from monk seals, especially moms and pups, for your safety and their protection. We would also like to remind the public to call 888-256-9840 to report sightings of Hawaiian monk seals or injured marine mammals and sea turtles.

Loss of Pregnant Monk Seal on Kaua'i

May 1, 2020

Hawaiian monk seal, R313, resting on the rocky shores of Kaua'i

For the second time in a week, we have to share the unfortunate news that a Hawaiian monk seal has passed away. Pregnant adult female R313 was found dead at Hā'ena Beach, Kaua'i, on April 25, 2020. She was first identified on Kaua'i in 2009 and was at least 15 years old at the time of her death. The lifespan for a Hawaiian monk seal is 25–30 years, though a few individuals have lived longer. The loss of a female seal with many potential breeding years ahead of her is a setback to population recovery of this endangered species.

R313 was never observed with a pup. However, staff and volunteers with NOAA and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources tracked her growing large and appearing pregnant on a number of occasions. She would then leave for about 6–8 weeks and return very thin, as though she had just weaned a pup. We assume that, like many Kaua'i seals, she went to a remote location on Ni'ihau to have her pups.

Hawaiian monk seal, R313, sunbathing on beach rocks.

Our marine mammal and sea turtle stranding network partners have had to make operational decisions based on COVID-19 that impact our ability to respond to strandings and entanglement incidents. We used the fewest number of people possible, followed social distancing protocols, and used personal protective equipment while transporting the carcass to a remote location for burial. As in the case of R5AY (“Honey Girl”), who passed away a few days previously on O'ahu, our ability to conduct the typical post-mortem examinations (including a necropsy) was extremely limited. Adult monk seals, especially pregnant females, can weigh more than 500 pounds and may require a large team for transportation and necropsy.  

In R313’s case, however, we were able to preserve her fetus and placenta and will perform necropsy and sampling as soon as it’s feasible. It is possible that this could provide us with additional information related to her cause of death. The most common causes of death in main Hawaiian Islands monk seals include fisheries interactions, trauma, and toxoplasmosis. Based on our limited examination, we cannot rule any of these out at this time. However, if her death was disease related we may be able to determine that from examining her fetus. There were no external signs of trauma such as wounds, but not all trauma is externally visible. There is currently no evidence to support claims that seals, whales, sea lions, or other marine mammals are infected with COVID-19.

The public should continue to report all sightings of stranded animals to the hotline: (888) 256-9840. As always, if you see a stranded monk seal, cetacean, or sea turtle, stay back a safe distance and follow marine wildlife viewing guidelines.

NOAA would like to extend our thanks to the Ocean Safety lifeguards and members of the local community who assisted with the response.

One of O'ahu's Most Well-Known Seals Has Passed Away

April 27, 2020

R5AY/Honey Girl rests on a beach in 2006. She was estimated to be at least 23 years old at the time of her death. The lifespan for a Hawaiian monk seal is between 25-30 years of age, although a few individuals have lived beyond 30 years.

We are grieving the loss of a very special monk seal today. One of O‘ahu’s most well-known Hawaiian monk seals, R5AY (also known as Honey Girl), was found deceased on the windward side of O‘ahu on April 23, 2020. She was first identified on Kaua‘i in 2002 as an adult. She was at least 23 years old—and perhaps much older—at the time of her death. Honey Girl was frequently sighted and popular with O‘ahu residents, especially in the North Shore and windward communities where she was a long-time resident.

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Our marine mammal and sea turtle stranding network partners have had to make operational decisions based on COVID-19 that impact our ability to respond to strandings and entanglement incidents. In order to decrease safety risks to members of the public, including the possibility of attracting sharks to the area or drawing a crowd of onlookers into close proximity with each other, NOAA worked with partners to move the carcass. We used the fewest number of people possible, followed social distancing protocols, and used personal protective gear. We transported Honey Girl to a safe and respectful location at Kualoa Ranch for burial. A Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner performed a pule (blessing) for Honey Girl.

Our ability to conduct the typical post-mortem examinations (including a necropsy) was extremely limited. As a result, our ability to determine Honey Girl’s cause of death is highly constrained. The most common causes of death in main Hawaiian Islands monk seals include fisheries interactions, trauma, and toxoplasmosis. Based on our limited examination, we cannot rule any of these out. There were no external signs of trauma such as wounds, but not all trauma is externally visible. Although blood was observed coming from the nose and mouth, this is not a clear indication of any specific cause of death. Trauma and fisheries interactions, such as entanglement, drowning, or hook ingestion, can affect seals of any age or sex. However, toxoplasmosis primarily affects female seals.

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Honey Girl was thought to be pregnant at the time of her death, and at least two seals that have previously died from toxoplasmosis in the past were also pregnant. She had successfully given birth to many pups, so death due to other pregnancy complications is unlikely. Despite her age, Honey Girl was in excellent nutritional condition, and we do not have any information to suggest her health was failing because she was at the end of her life. There is currently no evidence to support claims that seals, whales, sea lions, or other marine mammals are infected with COVID-19.

Honey Girl frequented both O‘ahu and Kaua‘i the first few years after she was initially spotted. After 2005, she spent the vast majority of her time on the shores of O‘ahu, though she was sighted once on Moloka‘i in 2017. In 2012, she was rescued and rehabilitated because a fishing line entanglement caused deep lacerations and infection in her tongue. She was severely emaciated by the time she was caught, and she had a blanket of algae growing on her fur. Veterinarians performed surgery to remove almost half of her damaged tongue, and she was rehabilitated briefly at the Waikīkī Aquarium. She was released back into the wild and went on to give birth to five more pups in her lifetime. 

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She gave birth to a total of 12 pups between 2005 and 2019, two of which went on to have successful pups of their own. Although only two of her offspring are known to be alive today (RA20 and RK80), her legacy continues on through her grand-pups. Learn more about Honey Girl in this Monk Seal of the Month feature story from 2017.

The public should continue to report all sightings of stranded animals to the hotline: (888) 256-9840. As always, if you see a stranded monk seal, cetacean, or sea turtle, stay back a safe distance and follow marine wildlife viewing guidelines.

NOAA would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the partners who assisted with this response in various ways, including Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response, the Hawai‘i Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, the City and County of Honolulu Division of Roads Maintenance, Kualoa Ranch, and the Hawaiian practitioner who performed cultural protocol.

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Pohaku Passes Away After Fight Against Toxoplasmosis

April 2, 2020

RO28/Pōhaku and pup RKA6 on a beach in Kauaʻi. Photo: NOAA Fisheries.

NOAA Fisheries and The Marine Mammal Center are deeply saddened to confirm that the monk seal known as Pōhaku (RO28) passed away on April 1, 2020 after a 10-week-long battle with a deadly parasitic disease known as toxoplasmosis. 

Pōhaku was originally rescued on January 22, 2020 and brought into care under the supervision of NOAA Fisheries veterinary staff at the Inouye Regional Center in Honolulu for assessment and treatment. She was subsequently diagnosed with toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by infection with Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that reproduces in the digestive system of cats and spreads oocysts (eggs) into the environment via cat feces.

With help from the U.S. Coast Guard, Pōhaku was transferred to Ke Kai Ola, The Marine Mammal Center’s hospital for Hawaiian monk seals at Kailua-Kona, for further rehabilitation on February 19, 2020. This action occurred after NOAA determined she had stabilized enough for transport and would benefit from the Center’s ability to provide longer-term rehabilitative care. 

Experts at Ke Kai Ola administered a series of medical treatments to Pōhaku over a several-week period to try to slow the rate of infection. During that time, Pōhaku regained some stamina and movement, and she showed some encouraging signs but those were short-lived. Her movement and appetite never fully recovered, and despite painstaking efforts to entice her to eat on her own, she also lost weight. Toxoplasmosis is known to cause long-term impacts to the brain, which are obscure and difficult to measure, but likely played a role in her ultimate decline. The intensive care measures and medications that were required to save her life and keep her hydrated probably also took a toll. 

RO28/Pōhaku and pup RJ28 resting on a beach in Kauai. Photo: NOAA Fisheries.

After Pōhaku passed away, a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner from Oʻahu with a long-standing personal connection to the seal provided a pule (blessing) over the phone. In this time of restricted travel and social interaction due to COVID-19, it was incredibly meaningful to be able to remotely bring the animal care team and members of the community together.

A post-mortem examination was conducted by staff at Ke Kai Ola, and NOAA provided support from afar. We will continue to work with the Ke Kai Ola team to analyze samples and learn as much as possible from Pōhaku. We will provide updates on the results as they become available.

There are some simple things you can do to help prevent T. gondii from getting into the environment and impacting endangered Hawaiian monk seals like Pōhaku from toxoplasmosis:

• Keep your cats safely indoors.
• Dispose of cat feces and litter in the trash.
• Call our Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (888) 256-9840 to report sick or injured monk seals.

NOAA is grateful to The Marine Mammal Center and other partners who played a role in Pōhaku’s treatment and care. To say it takes a village would be an understatement. While the outcome in her case was extremely unfortunate, we all hope that what we’ve learned from Pōhaku, and what we will continue to learn, can be applied to saving the lives of seals in the future.

Learn more about Hawaiian monk seals and toxoplasmosis frequently asked questions

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Monk Seal RO28 Brought in for Evaluation and Observation

UPDATE: February 6, 2020

RO28 swimming in a NOAA rehabilitation pool.

Over the past week, RO28 has begun to gradually improve. She remains in intensive care and requires daily treatment in order to receive essential medications, vitamins, antioxidants, and nutritional support. Some of the medications in her treatment regimen are used in other animals or humans to treat toxoplasmosis (or similar infections). It is difficult to administer these treatments to a 500-pound wild seal, requiring a team of 5–6 people each day. Fortunately, all this hard work is starting to make a difference. This week, her strength improved enough that she was able to swim in the rehabilitation pool. She even consumed a handful of fish during her swims—an appetite is another sign that she is starting to respond positively to treatment.

 

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Sadly, she remains so compromised that she cannot exit the pool without support and is very tired after these swims. But the team continues to work hard to minimize stress and provide her with an environment that balances her medical needs, safety, and comfort. RO28’s fight against toxoplasmosis is far from over, but we are happy to report a few signs of improvement for now.

We would like to extend our immense gratitude this week to partners at Oceanic Institute for donating some mullet to entice RO28 to eat during her swim time and again to Ke Kai Ola for continued support.

UPDATE: January 30, 2020

RO28 receiving treatment from NOAA and Ke Kai Ola animal care team. Permit #18786.

Since RO28/Pōhaku’s arrival at the NOAA Fisheries facility on January 22, 2020, our veterinary staff have been working diligently to care for RO28. They believe they have determined what might be afflicting her: Test results strongly indicate that she is suffering from toxoplasmosis. Despite aggressive treatment, she is very lethargic, a sign that the infection is causing pain and severe inflammation throughout her internal organs. 

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by infection with Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that reproduces in the digestive system of cats and spreads oocysts (eggs) into the environment via cat feces. Feral cats, of which there are an estimated 50,000 to 300,000 on the island of Oʻahu alone, are the primary source of T. gondii oocysts in Hawaiʻi. 

Monk seals are exposed to oocysts by consuming contaminated prey or water. T. gondii organisms can cause organ failure by destroying vital tissues, such as muscle, liver, heart, and brain tissues. There is currently no vaccine for toxoplasmosis and treatment options for infected seals are extremely limited, risky, and untested in this species. What’s more, treating the disease requires a long course of intensive care, which is very taxing to the monk seal patient. To date, 11 Hawaiian monk seals are known to have died as a direct result of this disease; however, because more seals disappear than are found dead, it is likely toxoplasmosis has caused many more seal deaths. 

Toxoplasmosis doesn’t just affect monk seals. Other marine and terrestrial species in Hawaiʻi, including spinner dolphins and ʻalalā (Hawaiian crow), have been killed as a result of this disease. You can help reduce the transmission of toxoplasmosis by making your cat an indoor cat.  Learn more about this disease and what you can do to help prevent toxoplasmosis from affecting marine wildlife.

Most monk seals with toxoplasmosis are found dead without warning. Only two seals have been rescued prior to death, but, unfortunately, they both succumbed to the disease within 48 hours of rescue. Now, seven days into treatment, RO28 has survived longer than any other monk seal patient we've treated. However, we are very guarded in our optimism: RO28’s prognosis is still poor given the aggressive nature of this disease and RO28’s lethargic condition in intensive care.

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NOAA continues to work hard to save RO28. As we do, we wish to express thanks to all of the partners near and far that have expedited tests, contributed resources, provided support and expertise, and sent thoughtful well wishes—especially the local community, Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response, VCA Kaneohe Animal Hospital, University of California Davis, University of Illinois Zoological Pathology Program, The Marine Mammal Center - Ke Kai Ola, Hawaiʻi Kai Veterinary Clinic, Antech Labs, and Veterinary + Emergency Referral Center Hawaiʻi.

January 23, 2020

RO28 sleeping on a west side beach, looking a little green prior to molting. Photo credit: HMAR.

An adult female monk seal, RO28 (Pōhaku), was captured on January 22, 2020, and is currently under the care of NOAA Fisheries veterinary staff. On January 19, 2020, a volunteer with the Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response (HMAR) volunteer network observed RO28  exhibiting a behavior called “logging” in the Ko Olina area. Logging means a seal is floating on the surface of the ocean, acting lethargic, and not actively swimming. This behavior can indicate that a seal is injured or has underlying health problems. Some seals, including RO28, occasionally exhibit this behavior for short periods of time (up to a few hours) even when they appear healthy. After monitoring her condition and behavior, the decision was made to bring her into our NOAA Fisheries facility for further evaluation. We will provide an update on her status once test results are received. We sincerely appreciate HMAR’s support with this effort.

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Juvenile Monk Seal RKC1 Found Deceased on O'ahu

January 30, 2020

RKC1 resting on a rocky shoreline shortly after his release from rehabilitation. Photo credit: HMAR.

NOAA Fisheries is saddened to report that juvenile monk seal RKC1 (also known as “Sole”) was found dead in Lāʻie, Oʻahu, on the afternoon of January 26, 2020. In 2018, RKC1 was rescued as a prematurely weaned pup on Molokaʻi and was successfully rehabilitated at The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola facility in Kona. After his rehabilitation, he was released near his birth site on Molokaʻi and was sighted on Oʻahu shortly thereafter. He was seen only a handful of times since then, and we believe he spent most of his time on small offshore islets. We conducted a postmortem examination to determine cause of death, and will provide updates on the results as they become available.

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Monk Seal Pup RL36 Found Deceased on O'ahu

January 10, 2020

NOAA would like to share what we have learned from additional analyses conducted since our initial post regarding the death of RL36 (Makoa). Necropsy and histopathology results support drowning in a lay gillnet as the cause of death. The histopathology exam, which looks for disease at the cellular level, confirmed that RL36 was healthy and showed no signs of underlying disease. RL36 was last observed a week prior to his death by a member of the public who called the sightings hotline; in photos submitted to NOAA his physical appearance looked normal. Unfortunately, decomposition makes post mortem exams difficult, so we are unable to rule out trauma with 100 percent certainty. However, the available information and similarities with other drowning cases, including young male monk seal RK88 found deceased in August 2019, strongly support drowning as the cause of death for RL36. NOAA encourages the public to follow the guidelines for Fishing Around Seals and Turtles. Report illegal gillnets to the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources hotline at (808) 643-DLNR (3567).

November 20, 2019

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We are saddened to report that recently-weaned male Hawaiian monk seal RL36, also known as Makoa, was found dead on the north shore of Oʻahu on the morning of November 9, 2019. We were unable to identify a definitive cause of death from examination and initial necropsy results.  Tissue samples will be examined further to look for causes of death that could not be detected during the necropsy, and we will provide an update once we receive the results. RL36 was born to well-known seal R5AY (a.k.a. Honey Girl) and was given his nickname, which means fearless or brave, by local elementary school children.  

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Despite Best Efforts to Save Her, a Moloka'i-Born Pup has Passed Away

November 15, 2019

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Recently weaned female monk seal pup, RL76, passed away on August 3, 2019, due to severe injuries she sustained in the wild. Based on the location where she was found, the nature of the injuries, and the results of veterinary examination and necropsy, the cause of death was determined to be trauma, which was most likely sustained from interactions with another seal. Although less common in the main Hawaiian Islands, adult male aggression towards female and immature seals is a well-documented occurrence in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. While we cannot definitively rule out other sources of trauma, there is nothing at this time that leads us to suspect human involvement in this incident.  Before she died, RL76 was transported to The Marine Mammal Center's hospital in Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, for treatment, but her injuries proved too severe to overcome.

RL76 was born between May 10-14, 2019, at Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi. On July 22, partners from the National Park Service noticed that she had swelling around her head and face, was breathing abnormally, and was staying close to shore in shallow water (a sign that a seal may be in too much pain to swim). The following day, a small team of NOAA Fisheries and The Marine Mammal Center staff were dispatched to Molokaʻi to capture the seal and bring her to Kona for rehabilitation at Ke Kai Ola. The US Coast Guard assisted in transport and, although they had to divert to another island to respond to a person in need of aide, were still able to get RL76 to the Center’s hospital, Ke Kai Ola, the morning of July 24. Despite the very best efforts made by the veterinary and animal care team at Ke Kai Ola, RL76 passed away the following week as a result of her injuries. NOAA is grateful to the National Park Service, The Marine Mammal Center, and the US Coast Guard for doing everything possible to try to save RL76. While we may not have been successful this time, there are many seals that are alive today thanks to these and other wonderful partners working hard to conserve Hawaiʻi's native seal.

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Death of Juvenile Monk Seal on O'ahu

October 2019

RK88 snoozing on a coral rubble beach. Photo courtesy of Hawai'i Marine Animal Response.

NOAA Fisheries is saddened to report the death of yearling male Hawaiian monk seal, RK88, also known as "Kuokala." He was found dead at Camp Erdman, Ka'ena Point on the afternoon of August 21, 2019. Necropsy and histopathology results support drowning in a lay gillnet as the cause of death. RK88's nutritional condition was being closely monitored earlier in the year, but he was sighted regularly in the weeks prior to his death in good body condition. Post-mortem test results confirmed that RK88 was healthy at the time of death and there was no evidence of underlying disease or other health concerns. NOAA encourages the public to follow the Fishing Around Seals and Turtles guidelines. Report illegal gillnets to the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources hotline at (808) 643-DLNR (3567).

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Monk Seal Moms Reach Major Maternal Milestones

August 2019

NOAA researchers at our Northwestern Hawaiian Islands field camps discovered two exciting monk seal pupping events in 2019. Both were on Lisianski Island.

Twin Pups?

When the monk seal field team landed on Lisianski in late May 2019, they discovered 14-year-old mom GV18, in her reproductive prime, with two pups! Could they be twins?  

We know that monk seal moms occasionally adopt a second pup, but this usually lasts for only a short period of time because either the mother or the larger pup will drive the adopted pup away. In this case, no other seal mothers were missing a pup and GV18’s two pups were similarly sized, suggesting they were twins. GV18 nursed both pups together and weaned them at a slightly smaller than normal size about a week after being encountered.

Mom (GV18) with likely twin pups. Photo: USFWS/Pete Leary.

A previous review of nearly 5,000 monk seal births over 26 years (1983–2008) revealed only seven sets of twin pups. Thus, monk seal twinning is exceptionally rare, occurring in only 0.1 percent of all births! DNA analysis on those twin pups confirmed they were all fraternal twins, not identical. 

This year’s “twins” are not identical, either, as one pup is a girl and the other a boy. When we tag weaned pups, we also collect “snips” of tissue that hold the key to each seal’s genetic makeup. We will have to wait for DNA results on these snips to confirm if the Lisianski pups are indeed twins, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we have discovered another rare case of twin monk seal pups.

Super Mom

TG28 with her 16th pup (2017).

It was with great excitement that the Lisianski field team reported monk seal TG28 gave birth to a pup this year. At 29 years old, TG28 is one of the oldest moms and is now an official member of the very exclusive Super Senior Monk Seal Momma Club!  Club members must be a minimum of 29 years old when they have a pup, and to date there are only four club members. The oldest mom is 30 years old and the remaining three members are 29 year old. These celebrated moms are giving birth up through their last years. The oldest female monk seal on record is 32 years old and only two females survived to this age.

Born on Laysan Island in 1990, TG28 is a very special lady, having begun her pupping career as an 8-year-old. For reference, the youngest mom in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is 5 years old, though only a handful of 5-year-olds have pupped. TG28 was a homebody most of her life, but in 2015, at age 25, she packed up and moved over to nearby Lisianski. 

TG28 is also a member of the equally exclusive Most Productive Mom Club. The record number of pups for a single mother is 18, a record held by just one mom.Two other moms are tied with TG28 at 17 pups each. We are hoping to find TG28 next year with a new pup—tying the records for both oldest mom and mom with the most pups.

TG28 with her 16th pup (2017).

Follow our monk seal researchers’ journey in the 2019 field camp story map.

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Independence Day for a Hawaiian Monk Seal!

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On June 23, 2019, a conscientious fisherman reported to NOAA that he hooked a seal. Volunteers and staff with Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response and Kaʻena Point State Park located the seal after nearly two weeks of searching, and NOAA staff subsequently captured the adult seal this past Independence Day weekend and brought him in for care. NOAA Fisheries Hawaiian Monk Seal Program veterinarians successfully removed a hook, line, and sinker from the stomach of the seal using endoscope technology. After observing and treating the seal at the NOAA facility on Ford Island, NOAA released the seal at Mokulēʻia Beach, Oʻahu over the weekend. NOAA Fisheries is looking forward to working with the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources and the fishing community to develop a comprehensive plan to prevent future monk seal hookings.

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Deceased Monk Seal Pup at Baby Makapu‘u

On Saturday, April 20, 2019, NOAA Fisheries staff and responders with Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response recovered the carcass of a days-old, male Hawaiian monk seal pup at Baby Makapu‘u tide pools, in Waimanalo, and transported it to the NOAA Inouye Regional Center facility. We do not currently know the identity of the pup's mother.  We will conduct a postmortem examination on April 29, 2019, in an effort to determine a cause of death, and we will provide updates as they become available. 

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Sad News About RI37

Adult female Hawaiian monk seal found dead.

March 14, 2019

Since the initial update regarding the death of RI37/Ipo, NOAA Fisheries has been pursuing additional analyses to help discern the cause of her death and would like to share what we have learned. Substantial decomposition made it difficult to come to a definitive conclusion, but we were able to rule out many potential causes of mortality.

There was no evidence of toxoplasmosis or leptospirosis. Given all the information we were able to gather, we believe it is most likely that the death was caused by a traumatic injury. It is important to note that we do not have enough information to speculate as to the type of injury, and we cannot rule out natural vs. human-caused, so we are not treating this as a suspicious incident at this time. Our findings suggest that the injury was fairly recent, but did not cause immediate mortality, and we do not believe the injury occurred in the location of the stranding. There was no evidence of head trauma, no external scrapes/cuts/bruises, and we did not identify any broken bones; however, it is possible that blunt trauma caused injury to the soft tissues.

February 8, 2019

We are saddened to report that adult female Hawaiian monk seal RI37 (born to the well known seal R5AY, or "Honey Girl") was found dead on the west side of Oʻahu on the morning of February 5, 2019. The initial examination and necropsy did not reveal a definitive cause of death, primarily due to decomposition. RI37 was in excellent nutritional condition and was not pregnant at the time of death. Tissue samples will be examined further to look for causes of death that could not be detected during the necropsy.

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Eels in Seals, a Slippery Situation

How does an eel end up in the nose of a seal?

December 5, 2018

A juvenile Hawaiian monk seal was found with a spotted eel in its nose at French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands this past summer (Photo: NOAA Fisheries/Brittany Dolan).

In the nearly 40 years that we have been working to monitor and protect endangered Hawaiian monk seals, we have only started seeing "eels in noses" in the last few years. Yet, our researchers have observed this phenomenon three or four times now. We don't know if this is just some strange statistical anomaly or if we will see more eels in seals in the future.

Hawaiian monk seals forage by shoving their mouth and nose into the crevasses of coral reefs, under rocks, or into the sand. They are looking for prey that likes to hide, like eels. This may be a case of an eel that was cornered trying to defend itself or escape. Alternatively, the seal could have swallowed the eel and regurgitated it so that the eel came out the wrong way. We might never know.

All of the seals that we have encountered in this slippery situation have been quickly caught by our response teams and the eel gently and successfully removed. The seals were released and haven't shown any issues from the incidents.

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It's A Record Year For Pups in the Main Hawaiian Islands!

A record number of pups were born in the main Hawaiian Islands in 2018, be sure to enjoy observing them from a respectful distance.

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November 2, 2018

So far in 2018, 30 pups have been born in the main Hawaiian Islands, soundly beating the previous record of 21 pups in 2013. Eight of this year’s pups were born to first time moms, including our most recent pup born to new mom R8HE in Maui Nui (Maui County). We know some folks get really excited about new seal pups and want to go see them in person - we do too!  But too many visitors can unintentionally disrupt resting and nursing. That’s why we usually refrain from publicizing specific pup locations and we ask that you do the same. By not specifying pup locations in our social media posts, we can help keep disturbance to a minimum.

If you come across a Hawaiian monk seal mom and pup, please stay quiet and enjoy them from a distance, remaining behind any signs or barriers that might be present.  If no sign or volunteer is present, please call it in to our hotline at (888) 256-9840.

RN18 (first time mom) with RKC1 (Sole) at seven days old in Kalaupapa, Hawaiʻi. 

Rocky's Pupdate From Kaua'i

Hawaiian monk seal "Rocky" (RH58) arrived on a remote beach on Kauai on Saturday, July 14. On Monday morning, July 16, she was observed with a new pup. Watch the video.

July 14, 2018

Hawaiian monk seal "Rocky" (RH58) arrived on a remote beach on Kauaʻi on Saturday, July 14. On Monday morning, July 16, she was observed with a new pup. Rocky and the pup both appear to be doing well. We have not determined if the pup is male or female at this time.

All photos and videos taken with a NMFS research permit.