Rocky’s 16th monk seal pup to end nursing period soon

News admin July 18, 2026 0 Comments

Rocky’s 16th monk seal pup to end nursing period soon

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Rocky the monk seal’s 16th pup, PO11, will soon begin its own journey as an independent seal.

The pup was born nearly five weeks ago at the popular Nimitiz Beach at Kalaeloa, an area rarely used for birthing and nursing seal pups.

Now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries is preparing to move the pup to a remote Oahu beach near other wild seals after Rocky departs to replenish her reserves, and PO11 will be an independent seal on its own.

However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for Rocky and her pup at the popular West Oahu beach.

Volunteers claim beer bottles and other containers were thrown at the pair. Evening Barbecues and loud trucks are also a cause for concern, along with off-leash dogs and interactions with marine debris and fishing gear.

Learn more: Volunteers say more protections are needed for Rocky and her monk seal pup at Kalaeloa beach

During the Fourth of July weekend, volunteers spent the holiday weekend protecting Rocky and PO11 at the beach from large gatherings and fireworks.

NOAA Fisheries said moving the pup after she is weaned will help her learn to interact with the wild away from humans.

PO11 will be moved shortly after they confirm Rocky officially weaned the pup. The exact timing or location won’t be shared to keep the process as smooth and stress-free as possible, officials said.

After the pup is collected, NOAA will give a quick health check and flipper identification tags before release.

The tags will help response networks monitor the seal’s well-being and growth from a distance as it adjusts to its new surroundings.

Last month, NOAA completed a similar relocation process with another pup, ‘Ānela ‘Auinalā, RV96, who was born in May.

As Rocky and PO11 end the nursing period, NOAA said the public can help keep them safe by: