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| Hilo, Hawaii News, Sports, & Information |
Thursday, May 23, 2013 |
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Back to Hawaii News index
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Posted: Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 8:01 AM HST
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Distance sought for newborn Hawaiian monk seals
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The public is being asked to stay away from two newborn Hawaiian monk seals on Kauai.
Federal officials say a female pup was born April 23 on Aliomanu Beach and a second pup of unconfirmed gender was born April 27 at Larsen's Beach.
Hawaiian monk seals are found only in the Hawaiian Islands and are critically endangered. There are only about 1,100 remaining and the population is declining 4 percent per year. Scientists predict the species could disappear in 50 to 100 years at this rate.
The births are hopeful news for the species after four suspicious deaths in six months.
National Marine Fisheries Service Monk Seal Recovery Coordinator Jeff Walters tells the Honolulu Star-Advertiser the mothers and pups need to nurse without being disturbed.
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