HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A new monk seal pup is stirring excitement in Waikiki.
It’s also prompting marine life officials to remind the public to keep their distance while viewing the critically endangered animals.
Around Sunday night, monk seal mama Kaiwi gave birth on the shore at Kaimana Beach. Officials say it’s her seventh pup overall, and the fourth born in this spot.
Tuesday, much of the shoreline at Kaimana Beach was blocked off with temporary fencing. There’s also signs warning people of the danger of getting too close.
“While generally monk seals are docile, in the case of a mother monk seal with a pup, they can be very aggressive, and they have attacked swimmers,” Hawaii Marine Animal Response president and founder Jon Gelman said.
So far, the HMAR team said there have been no major incidents with people disturbing the seals. Lifeguards are watching from the tower, reminding people to keep their distance both on land, and in the water.
“It’s very important for us to give them the space and time during this very critical time for them to bond and for the pup to get its nourishment,” Gelman added.
Experts say its best to have a 150-foot radius of space for the seals. Dogs and other animals should be leashed up and kept away, and loud noises kept to a minimum.
HMAR director of operations McKinley Walter said, “Hawaiian monk seal mom and pup stay together for about five to seven weeks. So the beach will be blocked off for about that time frame, to give mom and pup time and space.”
For now, they’ll be resting quite a bit, but more activity can be expected in the coming weeks.
“They’re going to start swimming more, using the beach, using the different areas, going out for longer swims, coming back, and then weaning towards the end of that five to six weeks,” Walter added.
The birth is attracting both tourists and residents alike, including Joshua Edelstein, who has come to visit during previous monk seal births.
“Just the fact that the species continues, considering how they’re endangered, it’s just beautiful that — both that she keeps coming back to this place so that we get to bear witness to it, and also that the endangered monk seal is is is thriving,” Edelstein said.
The pup doesn’t yet have a name, nor is its gender known, but scientists are hopeful they will have an answer over the next two weeks.
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