Some Monk Seals Face Euthanization
Hawaii’s monk seals often make the news due to their endangered species status and the consequent need to protect them and preserve their environment. “Euthanization” is not a word we typically associate with these endemic creatures, but it recently made local headlines in two separate cases. While the conversation is certainly controversial, in both cases officials insist euthanization was the best option.
Last week National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced their plans to euthanize at least one and possibly two male monk seals in Kure Atoll. NOAA reports that these two seals have repeatedly attacked and even killed female seals and pups. One of the responsibilities of the Northwestern Hawaiian islands agency, Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, is to protect the endangered species from threats. The seals’ habitat have often been threatened by outsiders, and in particular, the things outsiders leave behind such as pollution, abandoned fishing gear, and invasive species. Although the male monk seal menaces are part of the group of endangered species, Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and NOAA believe they are a significant threat to the species’ recovery. The Monument’s Management Board Chair, Dan PolhemusIf , expressed his concern and explained “If we do not take action, we risk additional young female seals being injured or killed by these males, and losing their future potential to reproduce and help increase the decimated monk seal population”. (Source)
The other monk seal euthanization case was not about threats but was a decision based on the poor health of a Hawaiian monk seal at the Waikiki Aquarium. Nuku’au, one of only two monk seals at the aquarium, had lived to the age of 31. While we don’t typically think of 31 as old, for a monk seal this is the equivalent of more than 90 in human years terms. Nuku’au lived at the aquarium since 1983 and helped educate more than 350, 0000 visitors per year. But in the past few years, his health declined. After consulting with a veterinarian, the aquarium felt they had no choice but to euthanize Nuku’au and prevent him from additional suffering.
Although the reasons for euthanization are different, these two cases are actually connected. Hawaii News Now reported that NOAA inquired about the possibility of moving the rogue Kure Atoll monk seals to the aquarium. Unfortunately, as the seals are full-grown and have only lived in the wild, the aquarium decided that they cannot safely house or care for them. The Director of the Aquarium, Dr. Andrew Rossiter, explained, “If they came in as pups it would be a lot more manageable but bringing in a wild animal, a wild male mature into captivity poses a lot of challenges”.
In the same week that these sad stories came out, another story about monk seals emerged. Thankfully, this one provides some hope – in the form of a $3 million dollar monk seal rehabilitation center. California-based nonprofit, the Marine Mammal Center, is working to raise funds to build the facility on the Big Island, where it will treat injured seals and feed and nurture pups that may otherwise die in the wild. Rehabilitation is a key step to increasing the monk seal population and combating the deaths that occur due to starvation, outside threats, disease and predation.
