The Hawaiian Monk Seal, an Endangered Species

This Tropical Pinniped Needs Greater Environmental Protections

Sep 21, 2009

The Hawaiian monk seal may not enter the minds of those vacationing in Hawaii. But for those wishing to conserve this endangered species, the time to act is now.

When people think about Hawaiian wildlife, images of serene, tropical reefs filled with colorful fish and exotic plants paint Monet-like canvases across imagination's vivid landscape. Others conjure freakish depictions of violent, giant sharks with razor shark teeth. Does anyone think of fat, blubbery yet adorable seals?

Those who wish to protect endangered wildlife should. Despite many protections already in place, the Hawaiian monk seal population dwindles.

What is a Hawaiian Monk Seal?

The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is a pinniped, the biological order comprised of seals, sea lions, and walruses. All pinnipeds ("fin footed" in Latin) have four flippers, wide noses, and sleek, streamlined bodies designed for swimming.

Hawaiian natives call these seals, "llio holo I ka uaua," meaning "dog that runs in rough water." According to Defenders of Wildlife, Hawaiian monk seals are the “most primitive of living seals.” The "monk" nomenclature is likely derived from the seal's solitary lifestyle, round hairy head, and skin folds, which resemble a monk's cowl.

The seals have dark gray coats, which is lighter on their stomachs. Their fur eventually turns brown. Females are slightly larger than males, maxing out at 7.5 feet and 600 lbs. Their average lifespan is 20-25 years, but they can live up to 30 years.

Hawaiian monk seals, obviously, live in Hawaii. They primarily reside in the northwestern islands and atolls, but some are found in central Hawaii. The seal is Hawaii's only pinniped and one of a select few species that don't prefer cold water. Most of their time is spent in the water, coral reefs serving as excellent dining venues. Seals come ashore to rest. Despite the warm climate, the monk seal's blubber is as thick as its northern relatives.

Hawaiian monk seals are carnivores. They eat fish, crustaceans, squid, and octopus. They eat up to 10% of their body weights per day.

Hawaiian monk seals face several natural perils. Sharks prey on these meaty creatures. Also, seals sometimes kill off their own in what is referred to as "mobbing;" violent adult males may attack pups and females during the species' mating season. The food-borne disease ciguatera, the contaminating toxins of which bioaccumulate in small organisms and magnify as they travel up the food chain, infect the seal's food sources and poison seals that ingest them.

Unnatural threats are caused by humans. Habitats have shrunk due to human encroachment. Like the critically endangered vaquita, monk seals sometimes become the unintended bycatch of commercial fishers, entangled in fishing nets. Ghostnets and marine pollution destroy habitats and can lead to seal deaths. Due to considerable federal protections, hunting no longer appears to be a serious threat.

In 2006, U.S. President George W. Bush "designated the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a national monument, creating the world's largest marine reserve and sparing the area the damage that human activities have inflicted on most U.S. ocean ecosystems," according to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF). This remarkable act protects a myriad of species, not the least of which is the Hawaiian monk seal. Declaring the area a national monument makes protections immediate, skipping the long process obtaining "marine sanctuary" status would entail.

Per the WWF, the "monument" is "one of the last large intact marine ecosystems in the world." To preserve the seal's habitat, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducts ongoing Hawaiian monk seal research. NOAA's stated goals are to monitor monk seal populations, study their biology, ecology, and natural history, and investigate and mitigate causes of seal death and hindrances to recovery. NOAA also has active hotlines for reporting seal strandings, sightings, or harassment.

With all this help, the Hawaiian seal must be well on its way to recovery, right? Wrong. Despite protections, Hawaiian monk seal "numbers are believed to have fallen more than ten percent per year since 1989," according to National Geographic's website. Approximately 1,400 seals remain.

Unfortunately, there is little else that can be done, save for stricter enforcement and harsher penalties for those who harass these creatures or act illegally within their habitats. Still, NOAA offers guidelines for those who come into contact with Hawaiian monk seals:

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