Hawaiian monk Natural History seals are a HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL critically The maximum age of the Hawaiian monk seal is believed to be 25-30 years. endangered Females reach sexual maturity at 5-10 years of age. species Roughly 65% of all female adults give birth each year. çÏ protected under Most females give birth on beaches with adjoining shallow water areas. the Endangered Pups are weaned at 5-6 weeks of age; mothers rarely eat while lactating. l Species Act, the Pups measure about 3 feet at birth and weigh about 30 pounds; their Marine weight may increase to as much as 150 to 200 pounds before weaning. i Mammal Mating occurs in the water, and is rarely observed by humans. Protection Act, o and Hawaiçi Threats state law. - Entanglement in marine debris. Disturbance by humans can cause seals to abandon important habitat. h Report any Aggression by adult male seals can injure or kill adult females or suspected juveniles, usually at areas with larger numbers of adult males. o violations of Predation by sharks. these laws to the Interactions with dogs (attacks and disease transmission). l NOAA Enforce- Limited prey resources. ment Hotline at o Photo courtesy Lori Mazzuca ©1997 1-800-853-1964. Recovery Efforts - Population Trends Marine debris has been removed from island beaches, reefs, and i Report monk entangled seals. Hawaiian monk seals are the most endangered seal species in the seal injuries, Protection of seals from disturbance. Adult males have been translocated to balance sex ratios and decrease the U.S., with only an estimated 1,300 seals remaining. Approxi- entanglements - and sightings to incidence of male aggression. k mately 180 Hawaiian monk seal pups are born annually. Of the NOAA Fisheries Rehabilitation and release of underweight pups. three species of monk seals, only two still exist -- the Hawaiian at 1-888-256- Development of recovery plan and a Monk Seal Recovery Team. a and the Mediterranean. The Caribbean monk seal was last sighted 9840. Research in 1952, and is believed to be extinct. - Remember, Assess and monitor population size. u monk seals need Determine reproduction and survival rates. to rest on shore Determine causes of poor survival and research mitigation measures. a Distribution & Movement Patterns to conserve Identify causes of injuries and mortalities. energy for Characterize foraging behaviors, including diving patterns and prey selection. - Major breeding populations are at six locations in the Northwestern hunting and Assess role of health and disease in population trends. Hawaiian Islands; a relatively small, but apparently increasing diving at night. u Please keep For more information number of seals live in the main Hawaiian Islands. Sandy beaches dogs away from Call NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Management Program, 808- a are preferred "haul out" sites for monk seals, however they haul out seals to avoid bites and 973-2937, or the sanctuary headquarters below. For more information, on all types of substrate. Monk seals commonly remain at their birth Did you disease visit the NOAA Fisheries website: know... island for life. transmission. www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/MMWatch/MMViewing.html Sponsored by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary ...the with assistance from the NOAA Fisheries Office of Enforcement Hawaiian Feeding Patterns and the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office Third Printing - September 2004 name for the Prey includes bottom-dwelling and reef fish, eels, octopus, squid Hawaiian HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE monk seal and crustaceans. Most feeding occurs at depths less than 100m NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY 1-800-831-4888 means "the (although they sometimes dive over 500m). http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov dog that runs in the rough sea."