Two monk seal pups receiving life-saving care at Ke Kai Ola on Big Island

As the peak pupping season for Hawaiian monk seals winds down, most pups are thriving and exploring the reefs independently. But two small pups needed extra help.

Those pups, one from Kauaʻi and the other from Molokaʻi, are now receiving life-saving care at the Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital — Ke Kai Ola — in Kona on the Big Island.

So far, they are responding positively to intervention from the veterinary team.

“For an endangered species like the Hawaiian monk seal, every patient matters, and both seal pups are doing well in the early stages of rehabilitative treatment,” said Dr. Sophie Whoriskey, associate director of Hawaiʻi Conservation Medicine at the Marine Mammal Center. “We are grateful to the community for their support and our partners for their rapid responses, ensuring the best chance for these animals to return to their ocean home.”

This summer, well-known survivor RH38 gave birth to her first pup, RU28, on Kauaʻi. The pair spent nearly five weeks together during the five-to-seven-week nursing period. Due to RH38’s historical care at the center, many employees were invested in seeing her first foray into motherhood.

After weaning, the center assessed RU28 and determined the pup was underweight and unlikely to survive without human help. Weight is crucial because pups rely on their reserves as they learn to feed themselves. The team at Ke Kai Ola collaborated with partners to transport RU28 to the Kona facility.

Transport to Ke Kai Ola and releases are conducted in coordination with the Marine Mammal Center’s partners at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and can vary in terms of logistics by response and release location.

Depending on the location and health of a monk seal, they will also work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response and the U.S. Coast Guard.

For the two young Hawaiian monk seals, the center coordinated with Mauna Loa Helicopters for a private flight to Kona.

Pup RU99’s parentage is less known. The young pup was first reported alone, with no mother in sight, on the eastern shoreline of Molokaʻi. Based on size, it was estimated the male pup was almost two weeks old.

The absence of a mother was a very serious concern since it is crucial that Hawaiian monk seal mothers stay with their pups throughout the five to seven week nursing period. Partners on Molokaʻi monitored RU99 to see if the mother seal would return, but she did not.

The Marine Mammal Center determined that Ke Kai Ola was the pup’s best chance at survival and coordinated a transfer.

According to the center, they may never find out who RU99’s mother is or why the two separated, but the pup also is responding positively to care and continuing to grow and develop.

“While no timetable has been set for release, our team of experts is encouraged by their initial progress in rehabilitative care,” Whoriskey said.

If RU28 and RU99 continue responding well to treatment, they can be released back into the wild once healthy and ready. When released, the center will monitor them temporarily with a satellite tracking tag.

This has been another banner year for monk seal pupping in the main Hawaiian Islands, with 35 new pups so far; however, RU28 and RU99 are reminders of how challenging early life can be for monk seals.

The center reminds the public to give seal mothers and pups space by staying at least 150 feet away from them during their nursing period. Report all seal sightings to the statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 888-256-9840.

Check the Marine Mammal Center website for information on respectful seal viewing.