KAILUA-KONA — A Hawaiian monk seal pup recently rescued on Kauai is in stable condition at Ke Kai Ola monk seal hospital.
The male pup, RK58, was born on July 16 to monk seal RH58 (Rocky) and was involved in a switch with another mom-pup pair on the same remote Kauai beach, said Dr. Claire Simeone, hospital director at The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola Hawaiian monk seal hospital in Kailua-Kona.
Multiple attempts at reunification were unsuccessful, including one last try in late July in which Rocky rejected her pup and displayed signs of aggression toward him. Rocky then left the area, and her pup was left on its own after having nursed for just 19 days, well short of the typical 35- to 50-day nursing duration leading to the decision to rescue the pup.
The seal was flown on Aug. 4 from Kauai to Hawaii Island where Simeone conducted an initial exam that found the pup was malnourished but otherwise stable. He is currently receiving nutrition in the form of electrolyte tube feedings, and as he grows stronger will transition to eating whole fish.
Last month, experts from the center and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rescued another male pup, Sole, born in June on Molokai that was also involved in a mom-pup pair switch. This is only the second observed occurrence of this type of switch in the main Hawaiian Islands.
Pup switches are a natural occurrence in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, but are less common in the main Hawaiian Islands due to the lower density of moms and pups.
“As we’re seeing more and more monk seals down in the main Hawaiian Islands, it’s something we’ll see,” said Simeone.
Sole continues to progress well in rehabilitation and was eating fish on his own at the monk seal hospital, Simeone said Thursday.
Sole and RK58 were introduced this week. They chased and barked at each other and acted very lively with one another, she said.
“It’s great to have two animals because he (RK58) can watch what Sole is doing and pick it up quickly,” said Simeone.
Once each seal reaches a healthy body condition and is able to forage on its own, it will be released back to the wild.
It is rare to rescue a monk seal from the main Hawaiian Islands, and RK58 is only the third pup from the main islands to be rehabilitated at Ke Kai Ola. Since opening in 2014, the Hawaiian monk seal hospital has rehabilitated 23 monk seals.
Meanwhile, Manu‘iwa, Hawaii Island’s lone monk seal born during the 2018 pupping season, is doing well, said Simeone. The seal, born Feb. 8 at Mahaiula, recently marked six months of life.
“Manu‘iwa has been doing great, she has explored the Kona coastline and has been spotting up and down,” said Simeone. “She’s actually returned to the beach where she was born and that’s where she’s been seen most recently.”
Simeone said reports from the community are helping the center keep tabs on the seal. She’s been seen interacting with the few seals known to frequent the Big Island, including females RW34 and R8HE.
“That really helps us to feel confident that she is thriving,” she said, also noting that sightings have been spread out, in some cases weeks apart, meaning the seal is likely traveling farther from Hawaii Island’s shores.
That’s a good sign as the center had expressed concern following the seal’s birth of Manu‘iwa becoming habituated to people after being born and weaned at such a popular beach area in North Kona. The seal had also been caught playing with a knife in late-April.
“We were lucky that we could intervene before there was anything negative that happened and she’s been seen doing seal things like swimming around, leaving people alone and laying on the beach,” she said, later adding that Manu‘iwa “hasn’t picked up any more knives that I know of.”
Manu‘iwa was the first successful weaning of a monk seal pup on Hawaii Island since 2013 when Kamilo, a male, was successfully weaned by RW34, also known as Waimanu, a female born in 2008 at Waimanu Valley.
RA20, Manu‘iwa’s mother, completed her moulting phase after weaning and leaving her pup at the end of March, Simeone said. At last report, she appeared to be in “good condition.”
An estimated 300 monk seals that call the main Hawaiian Islands home. An additional 1,100 live in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, according to the Monk Seal Research Program, which released its 2017 population update in January.
Members of the public should keep a safe distance from monk seals and report sightings on Hawaii Island to the center’s response team at the 24-hour hotline by calling (808) 987-0765.
Volunteers are needed at the Kona hospital and visitor center in a variety of roles, including animal care, education and response. Interested individuals should visit www.marinemammalcenter.org/KKO-volunteer to learn more about the opportunities available.