HONOLULU (KHON2) — A monk seal has died after a shark bite, according to the Marine Mammal Center and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The juvenile female monk seal known as RM28 passed away at Ke Kai Ola, the center’s hospital in Kailua-Kona.
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“Our team is deeply saddened to report the loss of RM28, especially knowing that this 3-year-old seal could have played an important role to further boost the population of this endangered species,” says Dr. Sophie Whoriskey, the Center’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Conservation Veterinarian.
RM28 was rescued from a shallow cove off the Kauai coast on Jan. 11 by NOAA, the DLNR and help from USCG.
Despite team efforts, RM28 died on Jan. 16.
