The juvenile monk seal RJ16, nicknamed Kahuluokalae, died Friday of what experts believe may have been a severe infection.
“Kahulu,” as he was known to his local admirers, was one of four monk seals born in 2017. He was found floating listlessly in an undisclosed location on Christmas Day and was brought to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Inouye Regional Center’s monk seal treatment facility on Dec. 28.
X-ray and ultrasound tests found no sign of trauma or evidence that the seal had ingested a fish hook or other foreign body. A blood test did indicate an infection of unknown origin.
A NOAA report said the seal received intensive medical care, including nutrition, fluids, vitamins and a broad range of medications several times a day.
“Though the expert NOAA team did everything they could, they were unable to save this very ill seal,” the NOAA stated in a Friday update.
The cause of death remains undetermined pending the results of further diagnostic tests.
High-surf advisory in effect on 3 islands
A high-surf advisory remains in effect until at least 6 p.m. today for the north and west shores of Kauai and Niihau and the west shores of Hawaii island.
The National Weather Service forecasts surf of 10 to 15 feet along the north and west shores of Kauai and Niihau.
The South Kona, North Kona and South Kohala coasts could get surf in the 5-to-8-foot range, the weather service said.
The waves were expected to peak Saturday night and slowly diminish today.
A small craft advisory also remains in effect through 6 p.m. for the Kaiwi, Pailolo, and Alenuihaha channels, and Maalaea Bay, with strong trades of 17 to 30 mph and gusts of 35 mph, the agency said.
