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~awaiian Mon~C Sea ~a~itat ~jocia~ ~e~avior <br />Wherc They Live <br />Most Hawaiian monk seals can be found around the Northwest Hawaiian Islands in the <br />Papahanaumoku5kea Marine National Monument, but seals are also found on the main Hawaiian <br />Islands. The population in the NWHI is falling rapidly due factors including decades of overfishing, <br />habitat loss, predation, and entanglement in marine debris. In contrast to the rapidly declining monk seal <br />populations in the NWH[, the few seals on the main islands are doing well. A small, but growing <br />number, perhaps roo-r5o, now live in the main Hawaiian Islands. <br />How They Behave <br />Monk seals get their name both from the soft folds of fur around their neck that resemble a monk's cowl <br />and for being solitary creatures, like monks. They are unusual for seals in that they do not live in large <br />groups: Monk seals generally stay well away from other seals and humans, and can become aggressive <br />when they get too close or feel threatened. Monk seals, especially pregnant or nursing mothers, appear <br />to be greatly agitated when they are disturbed by humans, so much so that they may abandon their pups. <br />So if you see a Hawaiian monk seal, remember to keep your distance. <br />how They Feed <br />Hawaiian monk seals spend the vast majority of their lives at sea, but do come to shore to give birth, <br />molt, and to find shelter in large storms. They feed on the coral reefs and sandy bottoms of the waters <br />surrounding the Hawaiian islands. Hawaiian monk seals eat fish and invertebrates, including reef fish, <br />flatfish, eels, octopus, and lobsters. Monk seals dive deep for their food, often to depths of z5o-3ooft, and <br />sometimes deeper than 5ooft, and dives can last for up to zo minutes. They mature at 5-to years of age <br />and can live for z5-3o years, although many new seal pups fail to reach adulthood. New pups are dying <br />quickly and there are few healthy juvenile seals ready to take the place of the aging breeding adults. <br />how They Nurture <br />Monk seal mothers invest a great deal in their <br />young, coming ashore to give birth and nurse. They <br />will remain with their young constantly for the first <br />5-6 weeks of their life and may lose hundreds of <br />pounds. The process of rearing a pup is very <br />challenging, and most females are not able to <br />reproduce every year. Rearing a pup becomes even <br />harder when less food and resources are available <br />to the seals, as is the case today. <br />Save ~ur Seals <br />Marine Conservation Biology Institute -Hawaii <br />Keiko Bonk • viii i4`h Ave. Honolulu HI g68i6 • (8oB) 938-6888 <br />~~o~ ~~ <br />