Hawaiian Monk Seal

The Hawaiian Monk Seal in one of Hawaii's most treasured animals and is Hawaii's official state animal. It is also considered an endangered species. With only about 1,100 or the seal left they are only of the most endangered species in the world. For this reason when you do come across on while visiting one of Hawaii's beaches you need to follow some very specific rules regarding endangered species.

Monk seals are only found in Hawaii and are one of only two animals that are indigenous to Hawaii. While the monk seal has been known to travel hundreds of miles the do not migrate and usually stay in the Hawaiian area. Each Monk seal usually like to return to its own specific beach on one of the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Monk Seal Facts

• The Hawaiian Monk seal is a close relative to the Caribbean Monk seal (also a critically endangered species and the Mediterranean monk seal.
• Monk Seals are fully mature at 5-6 years old and can live for 25-30 years. Mature seals can weigh 400-600lbs and are from 5-7 ft in length. The female monk seal is actually larger than the male.
• The gestation period for a monk seal is 10-11 months. After its birth the pup, which is about 3ft long at birth is nursed for about 40 days. During this time the mother fasts and remains onshore the entire time to protect the pup. One the nursing time is over the pup is on its own. The mother abandons the pup and it is left to forage and hunt on its own.
• Hawaiian Monk seals like to live more solitary lives. They do not live in colonies like their larger relatives the elephant seal and sea lions. At times you will find them in small groups sunning themselves on the beach.
• Monk Seals are incredible swimmers. While they usually like to do most of their hunting and foraging on sea floors less than 200 ft deep, they can dive as deep as 1500ft, holding their breath for as long as 20 minutes.
• Hawaiian Monk seal will eat almost anything they can catch; their typical diet includes squid, octopus, crab and other crustaceans, eel and fish.
• Monk seals molt each year. During this time they shed their top layer of skin and fur. During long stints out at sea algae can grow on their skin making it a green color. This is normal for the animal and is removed when the seal molts.

Monk Seal Habitat

Most of the current populations of monk seals live in 6 main areas although it is not uncommon to see them on other individual islands of Hawaii like Kauai.

• Kure Atoll
• Midway Islands
• Pearl and Hermes Reef
• Lisianski Island
• Laysan Island
• French Frigate Shoals

Guidelines regarding viewing the Hawaiian Monk Seal

• Never get between a mother and her pup
• Keep dogs well away from the seals
• Do Not try to feed a monk seal
• Do not shout, throw sticks at or otherwise try to wake up a monk seal so you can take a picture.
• Keep children well away from the seals.
• Never try swimming near a monk seal
• Never walk between a monk seal and the shoreline (the ocean)

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