NOAA Confirms Deaths of Two Endangered Monk Seal Pups

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an endangered Hawaiian monk seal pup known as RV36 was found dead after being discovered entangled in an unattended fishing net off Oahu’s North Shore. The three-month-old male pup, born in late April at Kaena Point State Park, adds to ongoing conservation concerns following the toxoplasmosis-related death of another young seal, RU02, earlier this year.

Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Pup Recovered From Oahu Waters

Wildlife authorities retrieved a deceased Hawaiian monk seal pup from the ocean after receiving a report of an animal entangled in fishing gear. According to NOAA, the report came in last Wednesday regarding a seal located about 10 yards offshore west of Mokuleia Beach Park. NOAA’s nonprofit partner, Hawaii Marine Animal Response, and state conservation officers responded to the scene to recover both the pup and the net.

Officials identified the animal as RV36, an approximately three-month-old male pup born in late April at Kaena Point State Park. NOAA stated that experts will conduct a necropsy to determine whether the entanglement caused the death or if other underlying factors played a role. As part of standard operating procedure, NOAA alerted its Office of Law Enforcement to the incident.

Parasitic Disease Threatens Population in Main Hawaiian Islands

The loss of pup RV36 follows the death of another monk seal, RU02—known to most as ‘Umi‘umi—several months prior. According to NOAA, the 1-year-old male seal was found dead on Oahu’s North Shore in early May. HMAR recovered the animal, and a subsequent necropsy confirmed that ‘Umi‘umi died from toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a microscopic parasite that reproduces in the intestines of cats. Warm-blooded animals like the monk seal become infected after ingesting food or water contaminated by infectious eggs shed in cat feces. Once inside the host, the parasite causes severe inflammation and organ dysfunction in the brain, heart, liver, and lungs. NOAA notes there is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease, making it one of the leading causes of death for monk seals in the main Hawaiian Islands, claiming at least 17 seals since 2001.

Record Births Contrast With Ongoing Conservation Threats

Community volunteers who tracked the birth of RV36 at Kaena Point on April 28 expressed sadness over the animal’s death. According to community reports, the pup’s mother was RL98, also known as Lina, from Molokai. Despite these losses, NOAA reported a record-breaking year for Hawaiian monk seal births on Oahu, documenting 14 pups so far this year compared to 13 the previous year.

The Hawaiian monk seal remains the last surviving species in its genus and holds protected status under both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. With an estimated 1,600 individuals remaining in the wild, threats such as fishing gear entanglement, habitat loss, human-seal interactions, and diseases like toxoplasmosis continue to impact the population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I see a dead or injured Hawaiian monk seal?

Observers should immediately report any dead or injured seals to NOAA’s dedicated hotline at (888) 256-9840.

How do Hawaiian monk seals contract toxoplasmosis?

According to NOAA, seals are infected after ingesting food or water contaminated by Toxoplasma gondii eggs, which enter the environment through cat feces.

How many Hawaiian monk seals are left in the wild?

Federal wildlife authorities estimate that only about 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals remain in the wild.