What is the Life Cycle of a Hawaiian Monk Seal?
The life cycle of the Hawaiian Monk Seal starts with gestation of approximately one year. The female usually gives birth to one pup weighing on average 35 pounds, and about three feet long. The pup will nurse 35-40 days while receiving swimming lessons from it’s mother. The mother will fast during this time, and my lose as much as 200 pounds herself. Her focus is teaching the pup to swim and protection. The females grow to be seven feet long and their weight on average 400 pounds, while the males are bigger, growing to be seven and a half, (sometimes eight feet long) and weighing in at 600 pounds on average. They eat a varity of fish, squid, octopus, and lobster. The seal is know to live for 30 years, but the average lifespan is 20-25 years. Then the cycle starts again, with the mating season starting in Dec. and lasting through mid Aug. This is an animal on the Endangered Species List.
