RS10

At 8 months old, Hawaiian monk seal RS10 was brought to Ke Kai Ola, our hospital that’s dedicated to this endangered species, after he was spotted with a fishing line in his mouth. Hawaiian monk seals are one of the most endangered animals in the world, so each seal is essential to saving this species from extinction. Once in our care, RS10 underwent an admit exam, which included our experts taking a series of X-rays. These tests confirmed this young seal had a fishing hook lodged midway down his esophagus. Ingested fishing gear is life-threatening, making this intervention necessary for RS10’s survival. Fortunately, our experts utilized special dehooking tools while RS10 was under anesthesia to safely remove the ingested hook, allowing them to avoid a more complex surgery and longer recovery for this monk seal. After his procedure, RS10 recovered well and was provided hearty fish meals to help him regain his strength. It wasn't long after that he returned to his ocean home on Kaua‘i.