Hawaiian Monk Seal

Hawaiian Monk Seal

(Nick Walter)

     The Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) is the only one native to Hawaii, and one of only two species of animal endemic to Hawaii. The Mediterranean monk seal is also found in Hawaii and is the only other monk seal there. The Hawaiian monk seal is highly endangered and its relative, the Caribbean monk seal, is already extinct.

     The seal can grow to around 7 feet and weight up to 450 pounds. With a lifespan between 25-30 years this K-Selected species has a very low survival rate of juveniles and sub-adults. The females usually become mature around age 5. In many breeding colonies there are more males than females and group mobbing of females is not uncommon sometimes killing the female. The seal is pregnant for 10-11 months and nurses for about 1 month.  The Hawaiian monk seal has a silver or grey back with a lighter belly, but newborns are originally black. They eat fish, cephalopods, and other crustaceans, and are seen resting on beaches during the day.

     As of now there are around 1200 monk seals still living, and although much has been done since its original recovery plan was started, they are slowly but steadily dwindling. This is the only marine mammal who is endangered and whose entire species range is within the US. They live in warm water and spend two thirds of their lives in the water.

     The Hawaiian Monk seal was listed as endangered first in 1983 and the recovery plan has been in action since then, until 2007 when it was revised because the population was still declining. There are six significant threats that the HMS is up against.

1    .     The low population could lead to disease outbreaks and would have grave affects based on its population size and range.

2    .     Galapagos sharks have increased preying on juvenile seals

3    .     Entanglement of seals in Marine debris kills many seals.

4    .     Humans cause mother-pup disturbance on popular beaches, they disturb them during recreational fishery interactions, and expose them to disease

5    .     Starvation in juveniles and sub-adults because of low food quantity has gone on for many years.

6    .     Many nursing beaches are being lost due to erosion, and prey resources have possibly been reduced due to climate cycles.

           The Hawaiian monk seal is far off from being fully recovered any time soon. To get it out of the “endangered” category and into the “threatened” category will take a lot of time and effort. There are, however, five main actions that need to be taken in its recovery plan.

     The first is helping specifically the young females survive in the northern Hawaiian Islands. This means learning more why this group of seals is declining more, and intervening to make sure that they can mature into mating adult females. This also includes protection from the single and groups of aggressive mating males. The second action needed is make sure during mating season that more seals are near each other and able to mate safely. Thirdly, minimizing the interactions of people and the seals, including individuals and mother-pup groups, is crucial. This can be done with coordination of all federal, state, local and non-government parties, volunteer networks. And lastly, preventing and reducing the chance of diseases into the population of Hawaiian monk seals.

     The problem with the Hawaiian monk seal population is clearly very localized to their location, so personal efforts by people other than those living near the seals would be raise awareness. As for the people near them, simply staying away from them in their environment. This causes a lot of issues for them, even by just being near them. Staying away and respecting their space can go a long way in the recovery process. 

Here is a video on how to live and share the beaches with Hawaiian Monk Seals 
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid660572737001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAmZfSubE~,RcH_vKEgcc8H4dTxFK_bcbVM8tx2ZgwW&bctid=1490299159001 


Sources 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_monk_seal

http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/seals/hawaiian-monk-seal.html

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/hawaiianmonkseal

http://www.all-creatures.org/alert/alert-20110817-2.html