Hobbies And Interests
Present Status
Statistics from marine biologists at the Marine Conservation Biology Institute state that the Hawaiian seal population declined by 60 percent since the middle of the 20th century and that 2010 figures show that the population is at its lowest level in recorded history. With only just over 1,000 seals in the wild, there is widespread concern that the species faces extinction. The scientists also point out that seal pup survival rates have drastically dropped from 80 to 90 percent in the 1970s to less than 15 percent in 2010.
Cause of Decline
Declining food resources due to overfishing around the seals' habitat is one cause of the low population. Entanglement in marine debris kills the seals, as do sharks. The lack of food has also to more competitive and aggressive behavior within the seal population, and an aging population combined with poor seal pup survival rates are contributing factors. A monk seal female gives birth to only one pup every two years, which poses repopulation problems because of an aging female population and an insufficient number of young females surviving.
Human Activity
In the 19th century hunting seals for their oil and pelts affected many seal species, including the monk seal. Hawaiian monk seals were easy targets for hunters because of their tendency to bask on the beaches. During this period, the slaughter of thousands of seals took place around the Hawaiian islands, and the population reduced so drastically that the main seal habitats were deserted. From 1900 until the beginning of World War II, the U.S. government made the islands a protected area and the seal population recovered to some extent. However, the war in the Pacific had a devastating effect as troop activities disturbed the breeding grounds. Monk seals don't like humans near them, and seal mothers will abandon their young if humans are nearby.
Human Help
Humans can help prevent the extinction of Hawaiian monk seals. Caribbean monk seals are already extinct, and there are only about 500 to 1,000 Mediterranean monk seals left. Scientists and government organizations working to protect the seals advise visitors to the area to avoid contact with the seals, as this may constitute harassment under federal laws. If you encounter a seal on the beach, stay at least 100 feet from it and at all times avoid female seals with pups. Authorities also ask that you report sightings of injured or sick seals to the National Marine Fisheries Service in Honolulu.