NOAA releases details on deaths of 2 Hawaiian monk seals on Oahu

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – New details have been released about the recent deaths of two Hawaiian monk seals in separate incidents on Oahu’s North Shore.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Tuesday that the seals, identified as RV36 and RU02, were both young males.

RV36 was found dead earlier this month in an unattended fishing net about 10 yards offshore near Mokuleia Beach Park.

A necropsy will be conducted to help scientists determine if the seal’s death was caused by entanglement or other factors.

NOAA said histopathology results show RU02 was killed by toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by a parasite found in cat feces.

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The 1-year-old seal known as ‘Umi’umi was found dead along the North Shore in May.

RUO2 is the 17th monk seal killed by toxoplasmosis since 2001. According to NOAA, the parasite washes into the ocean through runoff.

On a positive note, it was a record-breaking year for monk seal births on Oahu. NOAA said the island hosted 14 documented pup births in 2026, surpassing last year’s record of 13.

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