Positive signs for endangered monk seal population
KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM
“Nihoa” a Hawaiian monk seal who frequents beaches along the North Shore, basked in the midday sun before returning to the water at Turtle Bay on Monday, January 18, 2016.
Hawaii’s monk seal population is improving slowly, though researchers warn it’ll take many more good years to reverse a decline that’s been ongoing since the 1950s.
The lead monk seal researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported during a State of the Seal address Friday that more seal pups were born across the archipelago, and the survival rates are among the highest in decades.
A population estimate of 1,100 increased to 1,272.
Charles Littnan said the NOAA is including monk seal survival in its national “Species in the Spotlight” initiative.
Officials are also intervening with life-saving measures, like disentanglements and de-hooking, as well as minimizing human contact, preventing disease and developing programs for vaccinations.
Littnan said interventions have benefited about 30 percent of the monk seal population.
5 responses to “Positive signs for endangered monk seal population”
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The homeless in Hawaii should not be the only population that is the highest in the nation. We should also look forward to a higher count of monk seals.
I just love the sign. So cute.
My puppies just saw that, too, and also want one. XOXO!
But monk seals are threatened by feral cats. Eight seals have died of toxoplasmosis which is spread exclusively by cats. They poop, the poop gets washed into the sea, infecting filter feeders. Fish eat the filter feeders, seals eat the fish. They get toxoplasmosis which basically fried the brain.
No Fukushima??