The Washington Post: An Endangered Seal Was Nursed Back to Health. Then Someone Killed Her.
- Species conservation
An official denounced the seal’s killing as ‘a hateful act against all the people who call Hawaiʻi their home’
Published in The Washington Post: June 8, 2023
Spirits were high in late January when rescuers released Malama the Hawaiian monk seal back into the ocean.
Veterinarians had spent months fattening her up and nursing her back to health after saving her from starvation and near-certain death in August 2022. As she made a beeline for the water, her benefactors felt their job was done, their charge ready to go out on her own.
Malama had an auspicious start. Her rescuers watched as she quickly caught and ate a sea cucumber — an urchin-like creature that’s common prey for young monk seals. Then they left her to the ocean and to chance.
Less than two months later, she was dead.
header photo by Lauren Van Heukelem © The Marine Mammal Center / NOAA permit #18786
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\/California sea lions\/2023\/cropped-images\/csl-thunder-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-214-50-2868-2240-1713984238.jpg","alt":"California sea lion Thunder","title":"30 Percent of Patients in 2023 Experienced Some Form of Human or Dog Disturbance","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/30-percent-of-patients-in-2023-experienced-some-form-of-human-or-dog-disturbance","label":"Press Release","date":"2024-04-24 02:00:00"}
30 Percent of Patients in 2023 Experienced Some Form of Human or Dog Disturbance
April 24, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2024\/cropped-images\/hs-sandia-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-313-14-4124-3222-1713562157.jpg","alt":"A newborn seal pup with a fluffy lanugo coat looks up. ","title":"Pupping Season Spotlight: Caring for an Orphaned Harbor Seal Pup","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/pupping-season-spotlight-caring-for-an-orphaned-harbor-seal-pup","label":"Patient Update","date":"2024-04-22 02:00:00"}
Pupping Season Spotlight: Caring for an Orphaned Harbor Seal Pup
April 22, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Misc\/Graphics\/cropped-images\/climate-change-graphic-giant-earth-shutterstock-1798-6-5113-3994-1680046432.jpg","alt":"An Earth Day graphic of people holding the planet, recycling, planting a tree and moving a solar panel.","title":"5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/5-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day","label":"News Update","date":"2024-04-18 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2024\/cropped-images\/hms-rs10-release-photo-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-24359-0-0-966-755-1712699238.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal RS10 is released and heads toward the water","title":"Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Back Home on Kaua\u02bbi After Receiving Life-Saving Care for Ingested Fishing Gear","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/endangered-hawaiian-monk-seal-back-home-on-kauai-after-receiving-life-saving-care-for-ingested-fishing-gear","label":"Press Release","date":"2024-04-09 02:00:00"}
Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Back Home on Kauaʻi After Receiving Life-Saving Care for Ingested Fishing Gear
April 9, 2024
Read MoreSophie Whoriskey
Hawaiian Monk Seal