Young Hawaiian monk seal found dead on Oahu
COURTESY HAWAII MARINE RESPONSE
Hawaiian monk seal pup RS48, also known as Hoʻomau Lehua, was found dead on June 12 on Oahu’s North Shore.
Another endangered Hawaiian monk seal has been found dead on Oahu, according to federal wildlife officials.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said a young, female monk seal, identified as RS48 and known to many as Ho‘omau Lehua, was found dead on Monday on Oahu’s North Shore. She was just under four months old.
NOAA veterinary staff conducted a necropsy, or animal autopsy, to determine the cause of her death, which remains unknown at this time.
The discovery of Ho‘omau Lehua’s death occurred three months after another seal, Malama, was found dead at Ohikilolo on Oahu’s west side on March 12.
A post-mortem exam revealed that Malama died of blunt force trauma suspected to be an intentional killing, and NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to successful prosecution.
NOAA said Ho‘omau Lehua was born Feb. 23 to a seal known as Lei Ola, or RH48.
The findings from the necropsy will take time due to the need for further laboratory work. There were, however, no signs of blunt force trauma found on Ho‘omau Lehua, NOAA said today.
With only about 1,500 left in the wild, Hawaiian monk seals are one of the most endangered seal species in the world, protected by state and federal laws.
Anyone with information should contact the NOAA Enforcement hotline at 800-853-1964.
