Three monk seals return to Midway Atoll at Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument after struggling with malnourishment. They now have a second chance at survival.

Three endangered Hawaiian monk seals are back in the wild at Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, thanks to a partnership between NOAA Fisheries, The Marine Mammal Center, the US Coast Guard, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The rehabilitated seals have a new chance to thrive at Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll).

NOAA Fisheries observed the malnourished juvenile seals in 2022. After an intensive search and rescue effort, they spent months plumping up at The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola hospital. Then they were carefully released at Kuaihelani in March 2023. The young seals are now off to a good start back in their home range.

A rescue in the most remote reaches of the Hawaiian monk seal’s range is a challenge. Hawaiian monk seals don’t always make themselves easy to find. With just 2 days to locate and safely prepare the malnourished seal PP32 (Alena) for transport, NOAA Fisheries staff were thrilled to successfully bring her aboard the NOAA ship Oscar Elton Sette. They also rescued another malnourished seal, DQ10 (Lelehua), on the same trip. The pair joined WQ08 (Ikaika), who they rescued on a previous cruise, at The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola hospital on Hawai‘i Island in 2022.

The US Coast Guard stepped in to give the three rehabilitated Hawaiian monk seals a lift to Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries/Brenda Becker (NOAA Fisheries Permit #23459))

Seal patients at Ke Kai Ola are ready for release after they gain enough weight from feeding on their own and passing a release exam with a clean bill of health. That process can take anywhere from weeks to months depending on the seal patient's ailment, age, and body condition. But transportation via ship isn’t always readily available. That means that they can spend extra months in care just waiting for a lift. For these three patients, NOAA Fisheries needed some extra help to get them home.

In early March, NOAA Fisheries called the US Fish and Wildlife Service, a co-manager at Papahānaumokuākea. They offered access to the runway and facilities on Kuaihelani, where they operate the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway Memorial. They also provided helping hands to release the seals.

Rehabilitated juvenile monk seals PP32 (Alena), DQ10 (Lelehua), and WQ08 (Ikaika) acclimate to their new surroundings at Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) inside a temporary enclosure. (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries/Brenda Becker (NOAA Fisheries Permit #23459))

Next, the seals needed a way to get there. The US Coast Guard, another important conservation partner, stepped in and were able to provide a plane and flight crew.

It was a tranquil day in March 2023 at Kuaihelani. On a white sandy beach, staff heard a guttural “bahhh” from close by: A juvenile Hawaiian monk seal was vocalizing at its two pen mates. The seals play-wrestled in a shaded beach enclosure fashioned from aluminum fence panels and bungee cords.

USFWS prepares to release the rehabilitated monk seals after three days of acclimation in their beach pen. (Image credit: USFWS (NOAA Fisheries Permit #23459))

The return to the wild for PP32 (Alena), DQ10 (Lelehua), and WQ08 (Ikaika) involved a 3-day pre-release acclimation period, known as a “soft release.” Staff monitored the seals and their surroundings while staying just out of view.

When US FWS released the seals from the beach pen, everyone was delighted to see them calmly ease their way into the water at Kuaihelani.

“The Midway Atoll community is really excited to see these three monk seals adapting to their new home,” said Amanda Boyd, deputy superintendent for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. "Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge provides ideal foraging, resting and breeding habitat to [more than] 70 Hawaiian monk seals.”

The three rehabilitated Hawaiian monk seals make their way from the beach pen towards the water. (Image credit: US FWS/Amanda Boyd (NOAA Fisheries Permit #23459))

“Survival of each [seal] … [is] critical to the recovery of the population,” added Dr. Sophie Whoriskey, Hawaiian monk seal conservation veterinarian at The Marine Mammal Center. “This success story highlights the critical importance of our ongoing partnerships to help give these animals a second chance at life.”

Even though the seals were released at healthy weights, they still face many threats in the wild. NOAA Fisheries will monitor them using satellite tags and unique individual flipper tags.

NOAA Fisheries continues to monitor the rehabilitated Hawaiian monk seals with satellite and flipper tags. (Image credit: US FWS/Andy Sullivan-Haskins (NOAA Fisheries Permit #23459))

“We’re working to understand all of the factors that influence rehabilitated monk seals’ survival,” said Dr. Michelle Barbieri, lead scientist with the NOAA Fisheries Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program. “Observing their movement patterns over time helps inform how well the seals are acclimating post-release.”

NOAA Fisheries will continue to study the Hawaiian monk seal population, intervene to save seals, and examine the effectiveness of conservation actions.