The Hawaiian monk seal is the last surviving species in its genus, and is endemic to the 1,500-mile long Hawaiian Islands archipelago, from Hawai’i Island to Kure Atoll (Hōlanikū). Only about 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals are left in the world and their population is about one-third of historic levels.
Contents
Are Hawaiian monk seals endangered 2021?
Listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Entanglement, prey limitation, shark predation, fishery interaction, intentional killing, loss of terrestrial habitat to rising sea levels, disease.
Is it illegal to touch a Hawaiian monk seal?
Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, making it illegal to touch, harass, injure or kill the animals. Officials said harassing the monk seals is a Class C felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
What do you do if you see a Hawaiian monk seal?
Please report all monk seal sightings, injuries, and strandings to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840.
What makes the Hawaiian monk seal unique?
The Hawaiian monk seal is unique in that they live in a tropical climate. Most seals prefer frigid water. Hawaiian monk seals do not have external ears and they cannot rotate their hind flippers underneath their bodies.
Is it rare to see monk seals?
Found nowhere else. Around the main Hawaiian Islands, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates there are only 153 monk seals in the entire island chain. So our guests were very lucky to see one diving.The monk seal is endemic to Hawaii- they are found no where else in the world.
Are monk seals friendly?
Fact: Most monk seals are not aggressive toward people, unless they feel threatened (such as when a person gets between a mother seal and her pup).Normal “wild” monk seals almost never attack or seek interactions with humans. There have been only a few known cases of aggressive interactions between seals and people.
How many Hawaiian monk seals are left 2021?
Only about 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals are left in the world and their population is about one-third of historic levels.
Is it illegal to touch sea life in Hawaii?
It is not illegal for an animal to approach you, but it is against the law to approach, chase, surround, touch or swim with marine mammals, including dolphins. If approached by a marine mammal or turtle, put the engine in neutral and allow the animal to pass.
How close can you get to a Hawaiian monk seal?
50 feet
Hawaiian monk seals
Photo: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/Lesley Macpherson Recommended viewing distance: At least 50 feet (15 meters) away—on land and in water.
Can you swim with monk seals?
The distance between the Hawaiian Islands of the monk seals and other islands are vast, and the seals can’t swim cover the massive range. That is one of the main reasons why the monk seals limit themselves to the Hawaiian Islands.
How often do monk seals reproduce?
BREEDING: Monk seal mating behavior is rarely observed; however, it is known that they mate at sea. After mating, pregnant females haul out on shore to give birth, generally to a single pup. Birthing takes place at various times of the year, peaking in March and April. Pups are nursed for five to six weeks.
Do monk seals have fur?
The seals are born with a black lanugo—a fur coat found on some infant mammals.They shed this as they grow, and as adults, they have dark gray backs and light-colored bellies. Hawaiian monk seals are 7 to 7.5 feet (2.1 to 2.2 meters) in length, with females larger than males.
Do monk seals eat plants?
Monk seals are primarily “benthic” foragers (bottom feeders), eating a variety of prey including fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Their diet varies by location, sex, and age.
Is the Hawaiian Monk Seal Extinct?
Not extinct
Do sharks eat monk seals?
Deliberate killing of monk seals has also been a problem. Sharks are natural predators of Hawaiian monk seals, but during one unusual period, shark attacks at the French Frigate Shoals shot up, killing nearly a quarter of all pups born between 1997 and 2010. This kind of predation continues to be a concern.
How much does a Hawaiian monk seal weigh?
220 kgAdult
Is a Hawaiian monk seal a carnivore?
The Hawaiian monk seal is a reef carnivore that preys on bony fish, spiny lobster, eels, octopus, squid, shrimp, and crabs.
What eats Hawaiian monk seals?
Tiger sharks
Tiger sharks often prey upon Hawaiian monk seals as evidenced by shark bite wounds present on many monk seals. Other shark predators include gray reef and white-tipped reef sharks.
Do monk seals have teeth?
The monk seal’s physique is ideal for hunting its prey: fish, lobster, octopus and squid in deep water coral beds.The Hawaiian monk seal has a relatively small, flat head with large black eyes, eight pairs of teeth, and short snouts with the nostril on top of the snout and vibrissae on each side.
Are monk seals sea lions?
Learn More About Monk Seals
The Hawaiian monk seal population has only about 1,400 individuals, making it the most endangered seal or sea lion species in the United States.Hawaiian monk seals are born at about 35 pounds and 3 feet long, sporting a black coat of fur.
