Just a year after her release, rehabilitated Hawaiian monk seal Honey Girl gives birth to a healthy pup. (again!) (and again!)
Honey Girl is a mommy again! On February 25, she gave birth a pup on the North Shore of Oahu. It was the first known Hawaiian monk seal pup to be born in 2015 in the main Hawaiian islands. This is becoming a regular pattern with her now.
Wildlife officials from NOAA have just determined the pup is a female, although so far she is only known by her tag number P01. This is Honey Girl's ninth pup, a clear indication that she has recovered nicely from the surgery that removed a fishing hook from her cheek in 2012. It's always gratifying to see our former patients doing well.
January 16, 2014
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.
Help save Hawaiian monk seals today!
Read the dramatic story of Honey Girl's rescue, rehabilitation, and release in 2012!
Related:
- Read about the new hospital we've opened dedicated to helping Hawaiian monk seals!
- Learn about Hawaiian monk seals!
- Learn about Ocean Trash and how to prevent it!
- Adopt a former seal patient through our Adopt-a-Seal gift program and help future patients like Honey Girl!
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Build a Hospital. Save a Species!
"A dedicated monk seal hospital will give more pups a better shot at survival and adult seals a second chance when they need it! This is an essential part of our plan for their survival."
-- Charles Littnan, Lead Scientist, Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, NOAA Fisheries Service.
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By opening the Ke Kai Ola hospital to help monk seals, we're helping further enhance local Hawaiian efforts to:
Increase public education and awareness about the monk seal
Encourage environmental stewardship for the monk seal and our oceans
Train local volunteers to support the hospital
Introduce Hawaiian youth to careers in veterinary medicine and marine science
Ultimately restore the Hawaiian monk seal to a healthy population
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Hawaiian Monk Seals Need You!
