News Story Rescued Pup KHON

Link to Video:
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/18675734.html

Hawaiian Monk Seal Pup Rescued
By Brianne Randle
At only twenty-four hours old, this pup was living the island life. Just him and his mom."At first when we put them together they touched nose to nose, and we were hoping that there would be that bond there," says David Schofield, Marine Mammal Response Coordinator.That hope soon dwindled."Then the mother started biting the pup on the head," says Schofield.And aggression turned into abandonment."Really kind of sad the first thing we saw was this little pup with it's flippers outstretched on a big wet rock trying to suckle cause the mom was nowhere to be found," says Schofield."So the pup was vocalizing a lot, calling out to it's mother."His cries were answered. A team from NOAA rushed in for a rescue mission."Where the Coast Guard was waiting for us for the emergency airlift of the pup."Flown to Honolulu - where his story of survival begins.The first ever newborn monk seal rescued and taken into captivity."On that beach it would have perished, yeah it would have died for sure," says Schofield.Since Friday a team has been working from sun-up to midnight..."Right now were just worried about it surviving," says Dr. Charles Littnan, NOAA Fisheries.Focusing on hydration and nutrition."So when you've had an animal that's suckled for two weeks, it's a whole different ball game, then when you have an animal that's only two days old," says Littnan.By the weekend - he was starting to move."Also giving him plenty of time to sleep cause we all know all newborns like to sleep," says Dr. Gregg Levine, marine Mammal Veterinarian.And day five - a mini milestone."This morning we had a poop so we all sort of celebrated," says Levine.With a fifty-percent chance of survival, they're taking one day at a time.As for a name...at this point the pup doesn't have one. NOAA wants to focus all their efforts on his survival - first and foremost.You can follow how he's doing with updates here on the KHON2 website.
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Story Updated: May 5, 2008 at 5:15 PM HDT