Endangered Seals

Hawaiian Monk Seal sleeping on Poipu Beach

When my family was in Kauai this March, we were so lucky to get really close to a Monk Seal on Poipu Beach. We took this photo of the Monk Seal we saw there. They are so special and they are very endangered. There are only 1200 Monk Seals left. They live along Hawaiian coral reefs and on Hawaiian shores where they sleep a lot. 


Monk Seal Pups are born on beaches and nurse for six weeks. Pups are born with a black coat. Breeding happens in August and December.  8 out of 10 pups die before the age of 2 because they don't get enough food. They like to eat Teleosts (bony fish), Cephalopods and Crustaceans.


The National Geographic Society's website teaches me tons about these seals. In a YouTube video I've added here, you can see that so many monks get caught in nets that are caught in coral reefs. Monk Seals are super curious and they get tangled in the nets. It is so sad and it breaks my heart to see the harm we are causing with bad fishing practices.
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