Hawaiian monk seal pup Hoʻomau Lehua found dead on Oʻahu’s North Shore

An endangered Hawaiian monk seal pup that was just less than 4 months old has died.

According to NOAA Fisheries, RS48, a female pup also known as Hoʻomau Lehua, was found dead June 12 on the North Shore of Oʻahu. The pup was born Feb. 23 to mother RH48, or Lei Ola. The cause of Hoʻomau Lehua’s death is unknown.

As is standard practice, law enforcement — in this case, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement — responded to the report of the dead seal. Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response collected RS48 and brought her to the NOAA facility on Ford Island.

NOAA Fisheries is conducting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death and will provide updates as they become available.

Anyone with information about Hoʻomau Lehua’s death is asked to contact NOAA’s Enforcement hotline at 800-853-1964.

All monk seal sightings, injuries and strandings can be reported to the statewide NOAA Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 888-256-9840.