Hawaiian Monk Seal

Description:

They are one of only two remaining monk seal species. They weigh 375-450 pounds, are 7 to 7.5 feet in length and their life span is 25 to 30 years. The eat fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Their population is declining and is estimated to be 1200 individuals, with 150 of them being of the Main Hawaiian Island population. Their population is threatened by food limitations, entanglement in marine debris, human interactions, oss of haul-out and pupping beaches due to erosion,disease outbreaks, male aggression towards females and low genetic diversity.

Habitat:

They live in six main breeding subpopulations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and are also found in the Main Hawaiian Islands. This one was spotted off of the north shore of Oahu within the Ka'ena Point Natural Area Preserve.