Honey Girl the Hawaiian Monk Seal has a Baby!
- Species conservation
Just a year after her release, rehabilitated Hawaiian monk seal Honey Girl gives birth to a healthy pup.
Say “hello” to Honey Girl’s new pup, the first Hawaiian monk seal born in 2014. Honey Girl (also known as R5AY by the flipper tag researchers attached to her when she was young) was rescued in critical condition just 13 months ago with a fishing hook lodged in her cheek. After a delicate surgical procedure and 13 days of rehabilitative care under the direction of The Marine Mammal Center staff and other collaborative partners, Honey Girl was returned to the wild where she has since thrived.
The researchers monitoring Honey Girl know that she has given birth to six pups over the years, and this year she returned to her usual spot at Turtle Bay on the island of Oahu to bring her newest pup into the world. She’s been a great mom so far, nursing and tending to her new pup, and her previous pup has been staying close by as well.
Honey Girl is expected to nurse for about eight weeks, during which time the pup will double or triple in weight. We’ll continue to monitor Honey Girl and her young one, as every pup is important for the continued survival of this critically endangered species.
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/cropped-images\/hs-group-with-hats-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-34-0-1270-992-1750873865.jpg","alt":"Four harbor seals with small ID tags on their heads swim in a rehabilitation pool.","title":"How Our Patients are Named and Identified","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/how-our-patients-are-named-and-identified","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-06-26 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-oreo-by-josie-slaathaug-c-the-marine-mammal-center-108-0-1270-992-1750880575.jpg","alt":"Gray whale fluke above the water","title":"Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/los-angeles-times-the-numbers-of-gray-whales-migrating-along-the-california-coast-continue-to-plummet","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-25 02:00:00"}
Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet
June 25, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor seal\/cropped-images\/harbor-seal-pup-photo-by-Ruvim-Miksanskiy-251-0-1270-992-1750880392.jpg","alt":"Harbor seal pup resting on the beach","title":"ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/abc7-san-francisco-animal-trauma-could-be-linked-to-bad-human-behavior-bay-area-marine-mammal-experts-say","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-24 02:00:00"}
ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say
June 24, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Response\/cropped-images\/mbo-crew-es-rope-rescue-photo-by-lesley-simms-c-the-marine-mammal-center-2-0-0-1270-992-1749571082.jpg","alt":"MBO crew carrying a crate up a cliff","title":"The Marine Mammal Center reports high levels of marine mammal disturbance in Central and Northern California for third year in a row","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-marine-mammal-center-reports-high-levels-of-marine-mammal-disturbance-in-central-and-northern-california-for-third-year-in-a-row","label":"Press Release","date":"2025-06-10 02:00:00"}
The Marine Mammal Center reports high levels of marine mammal disturbance in Central and Northern California for third year in a row
June 10, 2025
Read MoreHawaiian Monk Seal