JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaiian monk seal pup Pa’aki frolics on the beach with mother Kaiwi in Waikiki on May 21.
1 /2 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaiian monk seal pup Pa’aki frolics on the beach with mother Kaiwi in Waikiki on May 21.
COURTESY NOAA Hawaiian monk seal pup Pa’aki swims in the water after being released on a new beach.
2 /2 COURTESY NOAA Hawaiian monk seal pup Paʻaki swims in the water after being released on a new beach.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaiian monk seal pup Pa’aki frolics on the beach with mother Kaiwi in Waikiki on May 21.
COURTESY NOAA Hawaiian monk seal pup Pa’aki swims in the water after being released on a new beach.
Federal wildlife officials have moved the newly weaned monk seal pup Pa’aki from Kaimana Beach to a more remote Oahu coastline.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said today that the pup was retrieved from Waikiki’s busy Kaimana Beach with the help of partners on Wednesday evening.
“The new location will allow Paʻaki to grow up in the wild, providing more opportunities to interact with other seals than with people,” NOAA Fisheries said in an online post. “This is important for the development of the young puppy.”
Pa’aki spent the night at NOAA facilities and received her flipper tags, RT96, this morning. NOAA said the pup was also vaccinated against morbillivirus, or phocine distemper, before being released to the new beach today.
Kaiwi reportedly gave birth to Pa’aki on May 1 at Kaimana Beach. It was the third time she gave birth on the beach in Waikiki. Her previous pups were born along the Kaiwi coastline.
Kaiwi weaned Pa’aki on Sunday after about six weeks of breastfeeding and bonding with the pup.
Although officials recommended the public choose another beach during that time and maintain a respectful distance of 50 meters from mother and pup, many beachgoers do so anyway.
Officials said they will not reveal the location where Pa’aki was released to minimize stressors and keep the pup safe.
NOAA reported that Pa’aki headed straight for the water after release near the new shoreline.
A temporary satellite tag is attached to the puppy to track her movements. She will explore her new home in the coming weeks, NOAA said. NOAA will provide updates on her comfort level.
The Hawaiian monk seal – one of the most endangered seal species in the world – is protected by both state and federal law. They are endemic to Hawaii, meaning they are only found in Hawaii. There are only about 1,600 left in the wild.
“Hawaiian monk seals like Pa’aki are not found anywhere else in the world, so seeing them in person is very special,” NOAA said in its post. “Show your kokua around these seals and other sea creatures!”
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