May 6, 2022 — The population of endangered Hawaiian monk seals has surpassed a level not seen in more than two decades, according to federal officials.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials this week said that the seal population has steadily increased over the past two years.
Officials estimated the population has grown by more than 100 from 2019 to 2021, bringing the total from 1,435 to 1,570 seals. Monk seals live only in Hawaii, including the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands where most of the animals are found.
The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are all within Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the largest protected marine area in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Michelle Barbieri, the lead scientist at NOAA’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, said the count shows that conservation efforts have been helping. The group travels across the archipelago to provide treatment and rescue to animals in trouble.
Read the full story from the Associated Press