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Posted: Wednesday, August 8th, 2012 8:58 AM HST
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Record low Hawaiian monk seal pup births this year
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HONOLULU (AP) — Federal scientists say a record low 105 Hawaiian monk seal pups were born in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands this year, in a worrying sign for a critically endangered species declining at an annual rate of 4 percent.
The Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program's lead scientist, Charles Littnan, on Tuesday said this year's births were the lowest since record keeping began three decades ago.
But in a positive sign, juvenile seals in the area are surviving at higher rates, raising hopes more seals will enter adulthood and start producing pups of their own.
Researchers spent seven weeks on a summer trip to the islands to study and help the seals. Normally their annual field camp lasts four to six months but budget cuts forced them to shorten the trip this year.
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