A record four Hawaiian monk seals have been born on Oahu this year, including the first pup to be born at Alan Davis Beach in East Oahu, prompting federal officials to seek more volunteers to protect the growing monk seal population on Oahu.

The newest pup, born Aug. 11, just finished weaning from her mother and is living on her own. She is expected to stay at the beach for another two months, but could leave sooner if she meets up with other seals traveling in the high-traffic monk seal corridor between Rabbit Island and Sandy Beach, said David Schofield of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Schofield said more volunteers are needed because of the pup’s age and because vandals recently damaged a fence surrounding the seal and signs that were put up to warn beachgoers.

"This is the time when we’re most concerned about pups interacting with people and becoming friendly," he said. "They’re very impressionable at this stage."

Experts hope to keep the seals wild so they don’t become problem animals — too friendly at 300 pounds that they become a threat to people in the water or a threat to themselves because they can no longer forage for food or defend themselves from sharks.

One seal, R042, was transported from Oahu to a remote area in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in 2009 because it was playing with humans, holding them underwater. Another seal, KP2, who also became too familiar with humans, may live the rest of his life in an aquarium in Hawaii.

Only about 1,100 monk seals exist, with about 200 of them living in the main Hawaiian Islands. This year is the first time four seals have been born on Oahu since experts started keeping records about 15 years ago, Schofield said.

Overall, the population is declining. Experts expect the monk seal population will grow in the main Hawaiian Islands because of the resources available, while it decreases in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, making the main islands an important foothold for the survival of the species.

About 35 monk seals live around Oahu and experts are trying to keep them separate from civilization.

On two Saturdays recently, vandals tore down the frame of a fence protecting the infant seal and tagged the signs. Researchers filed police reports in both cases, and law enforcement has been stepped up in the area.

The scientists have tapped volunteers to help watch the 150- to 200-pound young monk seal, nicknamed Ka Iwi after the area of its birth, and provide guidance to beach users about staying away from seals.

Three monk seals born on the North Shore, near Dillingham Airfield, and on Rabbit Island this year have all been weaned and live on their own.

Lynne Torigoe, who wanted to help the seals, has been volunteering to watch Ka Iwi since the pup was less than a week old, spending about three hours in the evening, five days a week, logging data about the seal’s behavior.

Experts also need volunteers to help with a statewide monk seal count on Oct. 15. Go to www.hmsrto.org for information.