Monk Seal Pup Found Dead On Oahu’s North Shore
UPDATED: The discovery comes after officials disclosed another young seal was most likely killed intentionally on the island in March.
Another endangered young monk seal was found dead this week on Oahu, although in this case federal authorities are still trying to determine how the pup died.
RS48, also known as Ho鈥榦mau Lehua, on the North Shore, according to officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Hawaii Marine Animal Response crews brought the 3-month-old pup鈥檚 body to Ford Island, where NOAA Fisheries personnel are conducting an autopsy, the federal agency said in a release Tuesday.
NOAA said it will provide updates on the incident when they鈥檙e available.
Update: NOAA conducted a necropsy on Ho’omau Lehua on Tuesday. The lab analysis will take more time but the agency confirmed that it found no blunt force trauma to the body.
Ho鈥榦mau Lehua鈥檚 death comes a week after NOAA Fisheries officials announced what they say was most likely the intentional killing a few months ago of another young female seal, Malama. Malama鈥檚 body was found March 13 at 鈥極hikilolo, a beach on the island鈥檚 Leeward Coast, with blunt-force trauma wounds.
NOAA Fisheries officials said last week that it was important not to announce Malama鈥檚 death until they had conducted a 鈥渇ull scope of analysis鈥 to conclude the seal had most likely been killed intentionally. Malama was about 9 months old when she was killed.
The Fisheries officials say healthy female seals are especially important toward the endangered species鈥 recovery because they can grow the population with every new pup.
The agency encourages anyone with information regarding Ho鈥榦mau Lehua鈥檚 death to call NOAA鈥檚 enforcement hotline at (808) 853-1964.
