One of the rarest and most endangered marine mammals in the world. Native only to the Hawaiian Islands, this unique seal has adapted to life in warm, tropical waters — a big contrast to the icy habitats where most seals are found. With its sleek, silvery-gray body, short flippers, and big round eyes, the Hawaiian monk seal cuts a quiet, almost gentle figure as it lounges on sandy beaches or glides through the coastal waters. Unlike many other seal species, it prefers solitude and is often seen alone, resting on remote beaches or hunting in the open ocean.

Named for its monk-like appearance — thanks to the folds of skin around its neck that resemble a hood — this seal spends much of its time at sea but comes ashore to rest, give birth, and molt. Monk seals feed mainly on fish, octopus, and crustaceans, diving as deep as 500 meters (over 1,600 feet) in search of food. They’re excellent divers and can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes while exploring coral reefs and seafloors. But they also love to sunbathe on beaches, often lying motionless for hours in the tropical heat.

Sadly, the Hawaiian monk seal is critically endangered, with a population of only around 1,600 individuals. They face a variety of threats, including entanglement in fishing gear, loss of beach habitat, shark predation (especially on pups), and human disturbance. Climate change and rising sea levels are also shrinking the sandy beaches they rely on for resting and raising their young. Conservationists in Hawaii have stepped in with creative solutions, like rescuing and rehabilitating injured pups, cleaning up marine debris, and even relocating seals to safer beaches when needed.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

US Minor Is.

2015

Seasonality Uncertain

United States

2015

Hawaiian Is.