Seal allegedly harassed gives birth on Kauai

A pregnant Hawaiian monk seal shown allegedly being harassed repeatedly by a 19-year-old man on a Kauai beach has given birth to her seventh pup.

Jamie Thomton, Kauai marine mammal response coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service, said the agency received a photo from a tour company Wednesday of RK30 and her new pup. She gave birth on a remote beach on the Na Pali Coast.

Thomton said it’s believed she gave birth sometime between Monday and Tuesday. “The pup appears to be healthy.”

A northwest swell has prevented biologists from traveling to the site to check on the two.

Biologists plan to monitor the pair for five to seven weeks while the mother is nursing. At about the seventh week, the mother is expected to wean and leave her pup. At that time, Thomton said, biologists plan to monitor the pup for several months.

The pup is temporarily identified as PK1, which stands for pup Kauai 1, the first of the year to be born on the Garden Isle.

Thomton emphasized that public should not disturb RK30 and her pup. He recommended the public stay at least 150 feet away.

A video that showed a man punching RK30 at Salt Pond Beach on April 26 sparked outrage around the country. Eyewitnesses identified the man in the video as Shylo K. Akuna of Eleele.

He has been charged with “take” of a monk seal, a term that means harm or harassment. He is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.