Hawaiian Monk Seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi)

Status: needs expert review. This is an endangered species; conservation, population, and threat claims cite the IUCN Red List and NOAA Fisheries, and a reviewer should confirm currency before approval. The Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) is one of the most endangered seals in the world and is endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago. This page deliberately publishes no precise haul-out, pupping, or resting locations (ETHICS.md; sensitivity tier: extreme).

At a glance

Field	Value	Source
Scientific name	Neomonachus schauinslandi	WoRMS / authority
Guild	pinniped (phocid / true seal)	—
IUCN status	Endangered	IUCN Red List
U.S. legal status	ESA Endangered; MMPA Protected and Depleted	NOAA Fisheries
International trade	CITES Appendix I	CITES
Population	About 1,600 total — nearly 1,200 in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and roughly 400 in the main Hawaiian Islands	NOAA Fisheries
Trend	Declined for about six decades; gradual increase since 2013	NOAA Fisheries

Identification

A robust true seal with a relatively slender body, a broad, rounded head, and short snout. Coloration is silvery-grey to brown above and lighter below, often with green-tinged algal films or scarring on adults; pups are born with a black natal coat. As a phocid, it lacks external ear flaps and moves on land by undulating. It is the only seal native to Hawaiian waters, which makes identification in range straightforward.

Ecology and behavior

Hawaiian monk seals haul out on beaches to rest, molt, and pup, and forage on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans, including in deeper waters and at offshore banks. The population spans two groups: the larger, remote subpopulation in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (within Papahānaumokuākea) and a smaller, growing group in the main Hawaiian Islands (NOAA Fisheries). Specific haul-out and pupping sites are withheld here by policy. Behavioral specifics should be cited to published research and confirmed in review.

Conservation status and threats

The Hawaiian monk seal is Endangered on the IUCN Red List and listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, with a total population of about 1,600 (IUCN Red List; NOAA Fisheries). After roughly six decades of decline the population has been increasing gradually since 2013, but it remains far below historic levels (NOAA Fisheries). NOAA identifies food limitation (particularly for juveniles), shark predation, entanglement in marine debris and fishing gear, aggression toward females and pups, habitat loss from erosion and sea-level rise, fishery interactions, disease (toxoplasmosis is a leading cause of death in the main Hawaiian Islands), and human disturbance and intentional harm as primary threats (NOAA Fisheries). Report figures as the cited authorities state them; a reviewer should confirm subpopulation specifics.

How to observe responsibly

If you encounter a monk seal resting on a beach, NOAA's rule of thumb is to stay at least 50 feet (about 15 m) away (NOAA Fisheries) — and farther for a mother with a pup. Do not approach, touch, feed, pour water on, or position yourself between a seal and the water; resting and nursing are essential and easily disrupted. Keep dogs leashed and away. Because this species is endangered with a tiny population, the cumulative effect of many small disturbances matters (WELFARE.md): give every animal a wide berth and follow on-site signage and lifeguard or volunteer guidance. This page keeps all locations to regional granularity (ETHICS.md).

How you can help

• Report any monk seal sighting, and especially any stranded, entangled, injured, or harassed seal, to the NOAA Hawaiian monk seal hotline or the local stranding/response network — do not intervene yourself.
• Keep your distance, keep dogs leashed near beaches, and never share precise locations of resting seals on social media.
• Support marine-debris removal, fishery-interaction reduction, and the volunteer response programs that protect resting and pupping seals.