Short Note: The First Successful Hand-Rearing of a Neonate Hawaiian Monk Seal
August 29, 2011
The Hawaiian monk seal is the most endangered marine mammal species whose entire range lies within the United States. Here we discuss the population trends that suggest a positive outlook.
The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is the most endangered marine mammal species whose entire range lies within the United States.
Primary distribution of the Hawaiian monk seal is throughout the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) from Nihoa Island to Kure Atoll. Over the past decade, the abundance of monk seals in the eight main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) has increased to approximately 150 individuals, and pups are born in the MHI annually.
Currently, the 85% of the population that resides in the NWHI is declining at approximately 4%/y. In contrast, preliminary estimates of the demographic rates for the 15% of the population that resides in the MHI yield a positive intrinsic growth rate of 6.5%/y.
While there is considerable uncertainty in the estimated rates for the MHI, these opposing trends suggest that the abundance of the two regions may be nearly equal in as soon as 15 to 16 y.
Schofield TD, Levine G, Gulland FMD, Littnan CL, Colitz CMH. 2011. Short Note: The first successful hand-rearing of a neonate Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) and post-release management challenges. Aquatic Mammals 37(3): 354-359. DOI:10.1578/am.37.3.2011.354.