Hawaii is boundless in natural beauty — but it is also a flourishing environment for many exotic animals, making the islands the perfect location for primates, zebras, farm animals, tropical marine life, and even tigers to thrive — in the wild, and in captivity. And though the Hawaiian green sea turtle — or honu — gets all the attention, today, we’re giving a shoutout to our favorite native animal: the monk seal. Whether you’ve seen these beautiful creatures in the wild or not, here are seven unique facts you might not have known. 

1. The Hawaiian monk seal is one of only two mammals endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, along with the Hawaiian hoary bat.
Jared Wong/Flickr
2. The monk seal is the only seal native to Hawaii, and in the Hawaiian language are called Ilio holo I ka uaua, which translates to “dog that runs in rough water.”
Brian Omura/Flickr
3. Hawaiian monk seals can live 25 to 30 years in the wild. They weigh between 400 and 600 pounds and can measure up to 7.5 feet in length. Female monk seals are typically larger than the males.
Brian/Flickr

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4. Monk seal pups are born black but morph into shades of gray and brown as they age. They also molt once each year, shedding the top layer of their fur and skin.
_quintin_/Flickr
5. The Hawaiian monk seal is endangered and is one of only two remaining monk seal species in the world. The other is the Mediterranian monk seal, and a third species, the Caribbean monk seal, is extinct.
Marvin Chandra/Flickr
6. The Hawaiian monk seal population is quite small — approximately 1,100 remain in the wild today — and threatened by both human encroachment as well as very low levels of genetic diversity.
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
To aid in conservation efforts, beachgoers should not go near monk seals if spotted in the wild and can be fined for disturbing the sweet animals.
7. You can watch Hōʻailona — a Hawaiian monk seal found on Kauaʻi in 2008 after he had been abandoned by his mother at birth — play anytime you want thanks to this live feed from the Waikiki Aquarium.
Lisa/Flickr

Did you know these seven facts about our favorite Hawaiian mammal? Have you ever seen a Hawaiian monk seal in the wild? Share your experiences with us in the comments below — just remember to give these captivating creatures plenty of space when you see them!

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