2018 Patient of the Year Nominee
Hawaiian monk seal pup Sole (pronounced SUH-lay) was rescued on the remote Kalaupapa Peninsula on Moloka'i after he was prematurely weaned from his mother's milk and wasn't able to get the nutrition he needed.
Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered species, with only about 1,400 left in the wild, so it was important that Sole be brought to our hospital, Ke Kai Ola, for rehabilitative care. Despite being malnourished, our veterinarians noted that he was in good health.
Sole was tube-fed a nutritious formula at first and soon transitioned to eating whole fish. 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.
After months of care, Sole was released back to his ocean home with a second chance at life.
Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Sole.
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.