Law enforcement officers from the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) and the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) are currently investigating Hawaiian monk seal deaths on Molokaiʻi.

On Sunday, September 19, 2021, individuals reported a young female seal dead on the south shore of Moloka‘i. She was identified by a temporary bleach mark on her side, as “L11” one of the pups born on the island in 2020. The carcass of L11 was sent to  O‘ahu and is currently frozen as COVID-19 conditions in Hawai‘i preclude NOAA Fisheries from conducting an immediate post-mortem examination. An exam will be conducted as soon as possible.

There have been six seals found dead on Moloka‘i in 2021.

Anyone with information regarding these monk seal deaths is encouraged to call NOAA/OLE at 800-853-1964 or the DOCARE hotline at 643-DLNR or use the free DLNRTip app. Reports can be made anonymously.

Photo credit: National Park Service/G. Puig-Santana