The other mammal is Hawaiian hoary bat. The seal population in the main Hawaiian Islands is naturally increasing and we are lucky to have the opportunity to view monk seals, sea turtles and dolphins in the wild. They have a very light gray coloring to their bodies. The other current species is the Mediterranean monk seal, while the Caribbean monk seal was declared extinct in 2008. There are not enough pups being born to keep the population growing.

This article looks at the decreasing population of monk seals. Monk seals have been hunted extensively for fur, oil, and meat, and all three species are listed as endangered in the Red Data Book. Kalman, Bobbie // Endangered Monk Seals;2004, p22 . The population or number of monk seals is getting smaller each year. Hawaiian monk seal is one of the only two mammals that inhabit Hawaiian Islands. They eat many types of common fishes, squid, octopus, eels and crustaceans (crabs, shrimp and lobster). The Hawaiian monk seal is one of only two current monk seal species. The small Hawaiian monk seal population in the main Hawaiian Islands is currently stable (neither growing or falling) and we are lucky to have the opportunity to view monk seals. As fewer monk seals are born or grow to be adults, the monk seal population gets smaller. If you are fortunate enough to see a seal on the beach or in the water in Hawaii, remember to watch from a distance for your safety and their protection. Monk seal definition is - any of a genus (Monachus) of hair seals of Hawaii, the Mediterranean Sea, and formerly the Caribbean Sea. Hawaiian Monk Seal – Monachus schauinslandi Description. Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) belongs to the group of true seals. Only two of the monk seal species are alive today and Hawaiian monk seal is one of them. You will find that the overall physical appearance of the Hawaiian Monk Seal makes it look much different from the other species of seals. The other one is Mediterranean monk seal. It is not uncommon to share the beach with a monk seal. Hawaiian monk seals are “generalist” feeders, which means they eat a variety of foods depending on what’s available. The head and the flippers are a darker gray or brownish in color. The Caribbean, or West Indian, monk seal (M. tropicalis) was thought to be extinct by the early 1970s.The surviving species, both in danger of extinction, are the Mediterranean monk seal (M. monachus) and the Hawaiian, or Laysan, monk seal (M. schauinslandi). The only other monk seal species, the Mediterranean monk seal, is deemed critically endangered with less than 500 individuals remaining. Protect the Hawaiian monk seal, let sleeping seals lie. However, it is a privilege that comes with responsibilities. Most seals live in icy waters, but the Hawaiian monk seal makes its home in the warm Pacific Ocean around Hawaii. Originally a trio, the Caribbean monk seal is now considered extinct with the last seal being seen in 1952, making the Hawaiian monk seal the only earless seal species to live in a tropical climate.