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Description:

The Hawaiian monk seal lives in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. They are named after their heads that resemble a monk's bald head.. Also, they are usually seen alone or in small groups. Like the other species of warm-water monk seals the Hawaiian monk s eal has a tenuous grasp on survival. Today, there about 1,300 to 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals left in existence, so they are extremely endangered. The Hawaiian monk seal population has dropped more than ten percent per year since 1989. Hawaiian monk seals can live up to 40 years, and the males are usually bigger than the females. Although Tiger shark predation contributes to the dwindling number of Hawaiian monk seals, the bigger threat comes from humans. For example, monk seals have died because they get entangled in marine debris, human interactions, and humans causing mother-pup disturbances on beaches. Tiger sharks hate eating young Hawaiian monk seals, and they much prefer to eat an adult because they have more meat. Throughout the day, these seals like to find a resting spot with shade or/and wet sand and relax. Mating season is between December and mid-August, and most Hawaiian monk seal pups are born in late March and early April. Usually, the litter size is three pups, but two of them die.

Interesting facts- Mother Hawaiian Monk Seals are very dedicated to their pups. They are most likely going to remain with their pups constantly for the first five or six weeks of their lives.While do ing this, mother monk seals eat lots of food in order to retain their energy, so they gain several hundred pounds. The Hawaiian monk seal evolved in an area without people or other land predators.

Habitat- Hawaiian monk seals live in remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Diet- Hawaiian monk seals eat fish, octopus, squid, and lobster.



Watch this video!

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Above is a Hawaiian monk seal relaxing in its habitat!

Visit these sites to see which facts and pictures are fake!

[|__http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/hawaiian-monk-seal/__] [|__http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/pinnipeds/hawaiianmonkseal.htm__] [|__http://www.defenders.org/hawaiian-monk-seal/basic-facts__]

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/hawaiian-monk-seal/ http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/pinnipeds/hawaiianmonkseal.htm http://www.arkive.org/mediterranean-monk-seal/monachus-monachus/image-G343.html