Newborn monk seal pup allegedly killed in dog attack

HALEIWA, Hawaii – A dog is believed to have attacked and killed a newborn monk seal pup on the north shore of Oahu.

The monk seal pup was born to Luana (also known as RN58) and the pair were first spotted together on Thursday, according to a news release from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.

According to NOAA Fisheries, the suspected dog attack occurred that same evening and the federal agency is currently conducting an autopsy (or necropsy) on the animal to confirm the cause of death.

The NOAA Office of Law Enforcement is investigating but does not have further details at this time.

Last year, a three-month-old monk seal was presumed killed by a dog. Hoʻomau Lehua (also known as RS48) had puncture wounds around her head and flippers that NOAA said were consistent with dog bites. This was the second confirmed death of a monk seal from a dog attack, following an incident on Kauai in 2014.

NOAA Fisheries requested that monk seal mothers and their pups be given at least 150 feet of separation and that dogs be kept on a leash on the beach.

The federal agency is also asking the public to protect the endangered Hawaiian monk seals by reporting sightings, injuries and strandings to the nationwide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 888-256-9840.