Photo story: Home sweet home, monk seals returned to the wild

May 23, 2016

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Rescued seal pup, Hawaii, September 2015. (Image credit: NOAA)

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Seven rehabilitated monk seal pups are back in the wild. NOAA Fisheries rescued the endangered seals from Hawaiian beaches last September and took them to The Marine Mammal Center's Ke Kai Ola offsite link seal rehabilitation facility on the Big Island.

The U.S. Coast Guard helped transfer the animals back to their homes this spring. This partnership boasts 15 young rehabilitated monk seals so far, including these seven — a critical success story as we work together to recover the endangered species.

Here's their story:

Rescue

Abandoned seal pup on Niihau, HawaiiThis is Kilo languishing on the beach after her mother abandoned her. NOAA Fisheries captured and transferred the pup to the Marine Mammal Center for veterinary care. (NOAA)
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Rehabilitation

Tube feeding monk sealMany of the malnourished seal pups required extensive care. This seal was so weak that the veterinarians had to carefully feed him in order to start him on his way to recovery. (Credit: Julie Steelman)
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Monk seals recover during rehabilitationThanks to the efforts by The Marine Mammal Center, the rescued monk seals were soon able to feed themselves. (Credit: Julie Steelman)
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Getting ready for the big move

Monk seal transportThe U.S. Coast Guard used a C130 aircraft to fly crates carrying the seals from the rehabilitation center to Oahu on April 14. (U.S. Coast Guard)
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Back home

Monk seals returned to sun and sandOnce back on the beach, the seals spent a few days in a holding pen to get acclimated to their new beach environment. Here, scientists open the gate and the seal knew exactly where to go. (Credit: Matt Chauvin)
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Monk seals happy to be home againKilo swims in the surf. A tag on her body allows scientists to monitor her whereabouts and environment to keep tabs on how she’s doing and learn more about monk seal behavior. (Credit: Matt Chauvin)
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