But their time on earth may be limited unless something can be done to stop the decline of the population of Hawaiian monk seals, the most endangered species in U.S. waters. Some experts fear those in Hawaii already may have dwindled past the point of recovery.
Scientists studying captive seals say they have a lot to learn about helping wild seals.
However, experts know at least some of the reasons monk seals are endangered. They include entanglement in marine debris, shark predation and male aggression. Scientists have relocated aggressive males, which for unknown reasons kill females and the young. But the problem of marine debris has grown worse despite cleanup efforts. Some experts want to establish a wild sanctuary by enclosing part of a coral reef.