As their name suggests, these beautiful seals are found at the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. These seals do not migrate from island to island, but do travel between them.

The Hawaiian Monk Seal eats a variety of foods including shallow-water fish, octopus, eels, and lobsters. All that great food helps the seal grow to be 550 pounds. (The female can outweigh the male by almost 200 pounds!) When not disturbed by man or animals, these monk seals can live to be 30 years old.

Hawaiian Monk Seals are solitary animals. They spend most of their time alone when out in the water and on shore. Sometimes, large groups or seals form on beaches, but this has more to do with favorable beach conditions, and little to do with a desire for company.

Why Are Hawaiian Monk Seals Endangered?
Seal hunters discovered Hawaiian Monk Seals at the beginning of the 19th century. By the end of that century these seals had been hunted almost to the point of extinction. Protection efforts began in the year 1909, and since then their population numbers have begun to slowly recover.

Today, the Hawaiian Monk Seal’s biggest threats are human disturbances, such as beachcombing and jogging, and aggravation by pet dogs. These disturbances can have undesired effects of the survival of the seal pups. Since the 1970’s efforts have been made to limit these detrimental interferences, and these efforts seem to be working, as the seals’ numbers are continuing to increase.

More Endangered Animals
Gorillas
Bengal Tiger
Nile Crocodile
Giant Pandas
American Bison (Buffalo)
Black Rhino

Come back next month to see a brand new endangered animal!