Hawaiian monk seals, who live in a small range throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago, are endangered and face serious threats from shrinking habitats, marine pollution, disease and human-seal conflict. Other species of warm-water monk seals have gone extinct, and only 1,300-1400 Hawaiian monk seals survive.
Endangered
1,300-1400
Northwestern Hawaiian islands and atolls
Human conflict and caught as bycatch
Hawaiian monk seals populations are in overall decline as they face a myriad of challenges to their survival including ocean health, fisheries impacts and loss of habitat. The population has declined more than 20 percent within two generations.
Protecting them from poaching and protecting their habitats through strong legislation is critical to allow this small population to recover.
There is good news! Hawaiian monk seals are the focus of one of the most proactive marine mammal recovery programs in the world, according to the IUCN. We must continue this trajectory of protection in order to protect this historic species. With such a small habitat and huge competition for resources, it is critical that we support ongoing efforts to maintain monk seal populations, mitigate human-wildlife interactions, and continue to support legislation that will allow monk seals to thrive.