An endangered monk seal mother and her pup are getting 24-hour police protection on a beach in Hawaii
Monk #Monk
An endangered monk seal mother and her pup are getting some serious security on Hawaii’s Kaimana Beach, including 24/7 police protection and a fence to keep the public away.
According to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, officials closed the beach after the seal and her pup made landfall for their nursing period. The department said “a temporary fence has been erected” to protect the seal and her newborn, and any beachgoers “are encouraged to use other areas.”
There will also be a 24-hour law enforcement presence at the beach to protect the seals, Jason Redulla, chief of the division of conservation and resources enforcement, said during a news conference.
The protection will remain active for the seal’s nursing period, which lasts between five and seven weeks, officials added.
The department also shared some pictures on Facebook of the seals, including one of the pup nursing and cuddling on the sand. One picture shows a sign on the temporary fence that warns civilians from interacting with the seal or its pup.
Monk seals, especially mothers, are considered to be “very protective of their pups” and have a history of aggressive behavior towards swimmers, officials said.
Hawaiian monk seals are considered to be one of the most endangered seal species in the world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with an estimated population of only 1,570 individuals. Habitat loss, predation, and human interference have all contributed to the seal’s endangerment.