How many monk seals are left in Hawai‘i?
The Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is an endangered species of marine mammal that is endemic (restricted in distribution) to the Hawaiian Islands. Its Hawaiian name, ‘ilio holo i ka uaua, refers to its dog-like appearence. They were hunted nearly to extinction, but thanks to laws prohibiting hunting of monk seals, and a wildlife refuge established in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (a series of atolls, shoals, and small islands to the northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands) there are well over 1250 monk seals today. They seem to be recovering, and we see a few of them each year visiting beaches on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, and other islands, where they were once abundant.
