The birth of a Hawaiian monk seal was recently captured on camera in Oahu. This is the fifth pup of the endangered species born in the area this year.
On Tuesday, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) shared a video of the moment a veteran mother monk seal, known as RN58, gave birth to a pup, known as PO5, on April 9 on a North Shore beach. DLNR employee Lesley Macpherson filmed the birth.
"As soon as its sac burst, the little one started wiggling around. Mom checked on it by vocalizing. He was able to move fast," Macpherson recalled.
Macpherson has monitored the seal family each day since the birth and noted that the baby seal is now nursing regularly and starting to explore the water. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hawaii Marine Animal Response, and DLNR will all continue to monitor the mom and pup as they bond.
Hawaiian monk seals are one of the most endangered seal species in the world, according to NOAA. There are reportedly only about 1,400 monk seals living on the Hawaiian islands.
The organization said another monk seal mother, RH92, gave birth to a pup on April 14 after surviving an off-leash dog attack. Three other pups were also born in Oahu earlier this year, however, they died of undetermined causes.