2019 Patient of the Year Nominee
Hawaiian monk seal pup ‘Ākulikuli was rescued from Laysan Island in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. He had recently weaned from his mother, but was not getting the nutrition he needed and was severely underweight.
Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered species, with only about 1,400 left in the wild. So it was important that ‘Ākulikuli be brought to Ke Kai Ola, our Hawaiian monk seal hospital on the island of Hawai'i, for rehabilitative care.
Despite being malnourished, our veterinarians noted that he was active and in otherwise good health. ‘Ākulikuli was tube-fed a nutritious formula at first and soon transitioned to eating whole fish on his own. Human contact was minimal and specialized enrichment activities encouraged him to develop natural behaviors and skills to ensure he'd have the best chance of survival out in the wild.
Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like ‘Ākulikuli.
Adoption Details
This is an exclusive digital-only Adopt-a-Seal®. When you adopt this patient, you’ll automatically be able to download your adoption certificate, which shares this patient's photo and story.
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Please note that this is a non-customizable, download-only certificate.