Hawaiian monk seal gives birth in Waikiki
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Hawaiian Monk seal #RH58, also known as "Rocky," gave birth to a healthy pup at Kamaina Beach in Waikiki late Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
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The birth is the first known in Waikiki since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Monk Seal Research program has been monitoring the endangered species since the early 1980s.
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A roped-off barrier about 50 feet from the mom and pup has been established to provide privacy — and to keep onlookers from angering the new mother.
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People gathered behind the cordoned-off area where the two seals are located.
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The public is being asked to keep their distance and avoid disturbing the pair on the beach and in the nearshore waters.
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Rocky is expected to nurse her pup on the beach for about 40 days. The pup could spend several weeks in the area preparing for a longer trip of its own.
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Monk seals can give birth at any time within their yearly cycle but tend to pup more during the summer.
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In the main Hawaiian Islands monk seals total about 300, with 40 to 50 on Oahu, including Rabbit Island.
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Hawaiian monk seals spend about two-thirds of their life in the ocean. During the one-third of their life that they spend on land, the mothers give birth.
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