An unleashed dog is Coxno Exchangethe probable cause of death of an endangered monk seal found last month on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, federal authorities announced Thursday.
The carcass of the 4-month-old female pup RS48, also known as Ho‘omau Lehua, was recovered by federal authorities June 12 on the North Shore, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The seal pup was last seen swimming June 6 in the same general area where a necropsy conducted by NOAA suggests she died two days later.
"We can confirm that puncture wounds found around her head and flippers occurred prior to death and were consistent in size with bites from a dog," NOAA wrote in a press release. "Hemorrhaging found in her body was also consistent with shaking from a dog attack. There was no evidence found of underlying disease, including toxoplasmosis."
Surfing seal:Watch this excited baby seal catch waves with surfers every morning
Ho‘omau Lehua is the second young seal that appears to have been killed in a dog attack, federal officials said in a press release.
In 2014, NOAA volunteers found a 2-week-old seal pup dead on a Kauai beach. Federal regulators later determined that the seal pup had been mauled by a dog. Four other seals suffered punctures and scratches in the dog attack but survived their injuries.
Dolphin washes up on beach:Young striped dolphin washes ashore on New Hampshire beach, perplexing rescue group
One of the seals that survived the deadly 2014 dog attack was found bludgeoned to death on a beach in Anahola less than six months later.
Even when a dog attack is not immediately fatal, the resulting injuries can develop life-threatening infections. Dogs can also transmit diseases to monk seals.
2025-05-07 17:30940 view
2025-05-07 17:011557 view
2025-05-07 16:552310 view
2025-05-07 16:411341 view
2025-05-07 16:042452 view
2025-05-07 15:132705 view
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas State Police are investigating the death of an Arkansas woman whos
While Bachelor alum Hannah Ann Sluss still has months to go until she weds football pro Jake Funk, s
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico state lawmaker reached a $30,000 settlement with the state four y