Rocky The Monk Seal Births Another Pup — Back On Kauai

She caused a sensation last year when she gave birth to a pup named Kaimana on a crowded Waikiki beach.

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(AP) — A Hawaiian monk seal named Rocky gave birth to her 11th pup on a remote shoreline on Kauai.

Rocky and the baby monk seal appear to be doing well following the Monday delivery, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials said.

Nine of Rocky’s pups were born on Kauai beaches, but her 10th generated attention last year. Rocky gave birth to a female pup on the crowded Kaimana Beach in Honolulu, surprising visitors in June 2017.

Rocky, right, and her pup Kaimana last year in Waikiki. Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

The pup, nicknamed Kaimana, was later moved away from the Waikiki area for safety reasons after she was weaned.

The gender of Rocky’s newest pup was not known Monday. More than two dozen monk seals have been born on Hawaii this year. The endangered species has a population of about 1,400 in the wild.

“We’re really happy to share that this year the main Hawaiian Islands are having a record year for monk seal births,” said Aliza Milette-Winfree, NOAA’s Oahu marine mammal response coordinator. “So far there’s been 26, and we are expecting a few more.”

NOAA officials remind people to stay away from monk seals, especially mothers, which can become aggressive to protect their pups.

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