Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Rescued Hawaiian Monk Seal Pup Returns to Ocean, Hook-Free
- Species conservation
- Entanglement
- Ocean trash
Published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: April 9, 2024
A Hawaiian monk seal pup that swallowed a fishing hook is now hook-free and swimming in the ocean off Kauai.
Monk seal RS10 made a speedy recovery after experts rescued him and removed the hook, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Administration, which oversees the endangered seals.
Kauai volunteers on March 16 spotted the 8-month-old seal with about 30 feet of fishing line trailing from his mouth.
Learn More About Hawaiian Monk Seals
Sign up to receive Hawaiian monk seal news, patient updates and more straight to your inbox.
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Hawaiian monk seal\/hawaiian-monk-seal-shutterstock.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal at the shoreline","label":"Pinnipeds","title":"Hawaiian Monk Seal","link_url":"\/animal-care\/learn-about-marine-mammals\/pinnipeds\/hawaiian-monk-seal","type":"page"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Hawaiian monk seal\/cropped-images\/HMS-wild-NOAA-4-832-3197-1474-1603733454.jpg","alt":"Two Hawaiian monk seals sleeping on the beach.","label":"Conservation","title":"Hawaiian Monk Seal Conservation","link_url":"\/science-conservation\/conservation\/hawaiian-monk-seal-conservation","type":"page"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2015\/hms-pearl-by-julie-steelman-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-18786.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal Pearl","title":"Understanding Endangered","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/understanding-endangered","label":"Online Learning Resource","type":"publication"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2016\/hms-nihoole-5-photo-c-noaa-permit-16632.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal Niho'ole","title":"Aloha \u02bb\u0100ina","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/aloha-aina","label":"Online Learning Resource","type":"publication"}
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\/Wild\/Gray whale\/stranded-gray-whale-july-2025.jpg","alt":"stranded gray whale","title":"Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/scientists-respond-to-dead-gray-whale-in-san-francisco-bay-as-species-faces-population-recovery-challenges","label":"Press Release","date":"2025-07-17 02:00:00"}
Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges
July 17, 2025
Read More{"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 Moreentanglement
ocean trash
Sophie Whoriskey
Hawaiian Monk Seal