Hawaiian Monk Seal Support

The Hawaiian Monk Seal has been in existence for more than 13 million years, but in 1976 it was listed as an endangered species. Currently, a newborn monk seal has only a twenty percent chance of surviving to adulthood. With the Hawaiian Monk Seal population dwindling from sickness, injury, entanglement in ocean trash, or premature weaning by their mothers, they could benefit from medical facilities. Each and every monk seal counts and a hospital for monk seals would allow Hawaii to return some of these sick animals back to the ocean.

The Marine Mammal Center and the Hawaii Wildlife Fund have joined forces to raise $2 million to build a Hawaiian Monk Seal healthcare facility in Kona, on the Big Island. For the last decade, The Marine Mammal Center has worked closely with government agencies and other nonprofits to provide medical assistance to monk seals, often flying out teams of its veterinarians, veterinary technicians and trained volunteers to provide hands-on medical care in temporary and make-shift facilities in Hawaii.

On Saturday, September 4, 2010, Team Hawaiian Monk Seal from The Marine Mammal Center will compete in the Maui Channel Swim to support the Center’s efforts to raise funds to build a hospital for monk seals. The swimmers will join 52 teams and 20 solo swimmers from around the world in a daring crossing of the Au Au channel (from the beach at Lanai to Black Rock on the shores of Kaanapali). Support the team as they race 10 miles to protect this fragile species.

More monk seals are dying each year than are being born… every seal matters.