Home » Latest News, Newsroom » DLNR NEWS RELEASE: POST-MORTEM EXAMS REVEAL TWO HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS LIKELY DROWNED IN LAY NETS
DLNR NEWS RELEASE: POST-MORTEM EXAMS REVEAL TWO HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS LIKELY DROWNED IN LAY NETS
Posted on Feb 3, 2021 in Latest News, Newsroom
Three Seals Found Dead in Anahola Area Late Last Year
(HONOLULU) – It’s believed drowning is the likely cause of death of at least two of three Hawaiian monk seals found dead on Kaua‘i last September, November, and December.
Constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic delayed completion of post-mortem examinations. However, considering recently received lab test results and information gathered by law enforcement officials, NOAA now believes the seals found in September and November likely died after becoming entangled in lay gill nets. The third seal was severely decomposed, making it difficult to determine the cause of death.