KAILUA-KONA — A Hawaiian monk seal pup recently rescued on Kauai is in stable condition at a monk seal hospital on the Big Island.
The male pup, RK58, was born July 16 to monk seal RH58, also known as Rocky, and was involved in a switch with another mom-pup pair on the same remote Kauai beach, said Dr. Claire Simeone, hospital director at The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola Hawaiian monk seal hospital in Kailua-Kona.
Multiple attempts at reunification were unsuccessful, including a last try in late July, when Rocky rejected her pup and displayed signs of aggression toward him. Rocky then left the area, and her pup was left on its own after having nursed for just 19 days, well short of the typical 35- to 50-day nursing duration. That led to the decision to rescue the pup.
The seal was flown Aug. 4 from Kauai to Hawaii Island, where an initial exam found the pup was malnourished but otherwise stable. He is receiving nutrition in the form of electrolyte tube feedings, and as he grows stronger will transition to eating whole fish.
Last month, experts from the center and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rescued another male pup, Sole, born in June on Molokai that also was involved in a mom-pup pair switch. This is only the second observed occurrence of this type of switch in the main Hawaiian Islands.
Pup switches are a natural occurrence in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, but are less common in the main Hawaiian Islands because of the lower density of moms and pups.
“As we’re seeing more and more monk seals down in the main Hawaiian Islands, it’s something we’ll see,” Simeone said.
Sole continues to progress well in rehabilitation and was eating fish on his own at the hospital, Simeone said Thursday.
Sole and RK58 were introduced this week. They chased and barked at each other and acted very lively with one another, she said.
“It’s great to have two animals because (RK58) can watch what Sole is doing and pick it up quickly,” Simeone said.
Once each seal reaches a healthy body condition and is able to forage on its own, it will be released back to the wild.
It is rare to rescue a monk seal from the main Hawaiian Islands, and RK58 is only the third pup from the main islands to be rehabilitated at Ke Kai Ola. Since opening in 2014, the Hawaiian monk seal hospital has rehabilitated 23 monk seals.
Meanwhile, Manu‘iwa, the only pup to be born on Hawaii Island during the 2018 pupping season, is doing well, Simeone said. The seal was born Feb. 8 at Mahaiula.
“Manu‘iwa has been doing great, she has explored the Kona coastline and has been spotting up and down,” Simeone said. “She’s actually returned to the beach where she was born, and that’s where she’s been seen most recently.”
Simeone said reports from the community are helping the center keep tabs on the seal. She’s been seen interacting with the few seals known to frequent the Big Island, including females RW34 and R8HE.
“That really helps us to feel confident that she is thriving,” she said, also noting sightings have been spread out, in some cases weeks apart, meaning the seal is likely traveling farther from Hawaii Island’s shores.
Members of the public should keep a safe distance from monk seals and report sightings on Hawaii Island to the center’s response team via the 24-hour hotline by calling 987-0765.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.