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COURTESY PHOTO
Hawaiian monk seal pup RU28 rests in a rehabilitation pool pen during treatment at Ke Kai Ola in Kailua-Kona.
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Hawaiian monk seal pup RU99 at The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola monk seal hospital in Kailua-Kona.
Two endangered Hawaiian monk seal pups have been rescued this summer, according to federal wildlife officials, improving their prospects for survival.
The two pups — one from Kauai, and the other from Molokai — are now under the care of The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola, a specialized hospital for monk seals in Kailua-Kona.
Hawaiian monk seal RU28 was born on Kauai this summer, but was underweight at the time of weaning from his mother, according to experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The mom-and-pup pair spent nearly five weeks together, which is within the usual nursing period of five to seven weeks. However, NOAA decided the pup was underweight and needed intervention.
A team from NOAA transported RU28 to Ke Kai Ola, where he is now gaining weight and strength.
Hawaiian monk seal pup RU99, meanwhile, was spotted this summer along on the eastern shoreline of Molokai, with no mom in sight. At the time, experts estimated him to be almost two weeks old based on size.
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The pup was too young to be weaned, and when the mother did not show up, NOAA decided to also bring him to Ke Kai Ola, where he is now continuing to grow and develop.
“These pups’ stories are powerful reminders of how challenging early life can be for monk seals—and for those working to recover them,” said NOAA in a blog post. “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.”
NOAA reminds the public to give monk seal moms and pups space during their nursing period, which is a recommended 150 feet both on shore and in the water as peak pupping season — typically from March to August — winds down.
A total of 35 new pups have been born in the main Hawaiian isles so far, NOAA said, calling it “another banner year.”
With only an estimated 1,600 monk seals left in the wild, however, the species is still considered critically endangered and remains protected by state and federal laws.
NOAA encourages the public to report monk seal sightings to the marine wildlife hotline at 888-256-9840