KALAUPAPA, HI (May 16, 2013) – Monk seal advocacy groups are asking for the public's help to locate a sick and severely malnourished Hawaiian monk seal known to frequent the Kalaupapa area in the county of Kalawao, Moloka‘i. Experts are concerned about her health and want to bring the seal to O‘ahu for assessment and treatment at the Waikīkī Aquarium. The seal would be returned to Kalaupapa after recovery.

The Monk Seal Foundation is seeking applicants for a part time Development Officer Position. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The Monk Seal Foundation currently operates programs on Maui, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and Hawaii, the Big Island.

The Monk Seal Foundation (MSF), a Lahaina, Hawaii-based non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the critically-endangered Hawaiian monk seal has announced that the Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team Oahu (HMSRTO) will join its organization.

January 29, 2013: RL12 a 1 year old Female Hawaiian monk seal was found on Rabbit Island with a 3 pronged spear lodged in her head. Officials from the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program were able to successfully remove the spear and the seal is expected to make a full recovery. Federal officials are investigating whether the spearing was intentional or accidental. (Image Courtesy NOAA permit # 932-1905)

HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and NOAA Fisheries announced this week that since the beginning of 2012, NOAA Fisheries, DLNR, and partners have responded to 13 seal hooking incidents involving ten individual Hawaiian monk seals. Due to early reporting, seven of the 11 live cases ended successfully with intervention from authorized federal and state agency monk seal responders. Two cases ended in the seal ridding itself without intervention, and although an intervention was attempted, one seal remains hooked to this day. Three cases ended in deaths.