Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Friday, November 22, 2024 82° Today's Paper

Photo Galleries

Hook removed from Hawaiian monk seal on Oahu

By NOAA Fisheries

Aug. 7, 2019

Video

1/8
Swipe or click to see more
Video courtesy Hawaii Marine Animal Response, Edited by Chelsee Yee, Music by bensound.com
Hawaiian monk seal R333 was accidentally hooked by a fisherman on July 27. NOAA officials credit the fisherman for calling the hotline right away, which helped the response and treatment to the seal. To report a hooked seal, call NOAA’s hotline at 888-256-9840.
2/8
Swipe or click to see more
The Hawaii Marine Animal Rescue received a call on Saturday about a hooked monk seal. A fisherman was reeling in his line when he realized there was an endangered Hawaiian monk seal at the end of it.
3/8
Swipe or click to see more
The monk seal response team transfers R333 to a holding pen for evaluation at NOAA’s Inouye Regional Center. Fishing line is trailing out of his mouth.
4/8
Swipe or click to see more
The monk seal response team transfers R333 to a holding pen for evaluation at NOAA’s Inouye Regional Center. Fishing line is trailing out of his mouth.
5/8
Swipe or click to see more
The veterinary team uses an endoscope to see the hook while dislodging it from the monk seal’s cardiac sphincter.
6/8
Swipe or click to see more
X-ray of the fishing hook lodged deep in R333’s esophagus.
7/8
Swipe or click to see more
Dr. Michelle Barbieri used PVC tubing to cover the tip of a hook and 16-inch, de-hooking tool so it would not cause more damage as she maneuvered it out of R333’s esophagus.
8/8
Swipe or click to see more
After a hook was removed from his esophagus, Hawaiian monk seal R333 swims along the shore with a satellite transmitter attached to his back.
Previous Gallery
10 newspaper covers from this week in Hawaii's past
Next Gallery
Tilapia invasion along Napali Coast shoreline

More Photo Galleries

Subscriber Favorites

Flip through MidWeek online

Looking Back


Honolulu Local Business Guide