An unleashed dog is TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Centerthe 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.
2025-04-29 20:191177 view
2025-04-29 19:42552 view
2025-04-29 19:372591 view
2025-04-29 19:191766 view
2025-04-29 18:141446 view
2025-04-29 18:092594 view
No, it's not an omen or a weird biblical sign of the apocalypse. Thousands of tarantulas are venturi
With just one week left in the 2023 NFL season, there is still plenty to be determined about the NFL
DENVER (AP) — Gun rights groups have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Colorado’s ban on so-called