This data set contains information on Hawaiian monk seal gross necropsy (in some cases only field notes or minimal information) and histopathology results beginning in 1964. Data includes information on all recovered Hawaiian monk seal carcasses that were necropsied. Information derived from pathology reports is included when tissues were reviewed by pathologists. Necropsy tissues are collected by Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program (HMSRP) personnel and cooperating scientists as part of the ongoing health and disease assessment. The tissues are reviewed by collaborating pathologists. All original paper reports are housed at the NOAA Inouye Regional Center (IRC) and most are available electronically. Data are available in an excel spreadsheet.

Hematology and serum chemistry evaluations are essential to a patients comprehensive health exam by providing measures of organ function, blood cell volume and health status. Reference ranges have to be established to interpret that the values are within normal limits. Presently, hematology and serum chemistry results from healthy, sick and injured Hawaiian monk seals are interpreted using past studies, which were limited by small samples sizes across age classes, collected from captive Hawaiian monk seals or established using frozen samples. This study builds on previous studies in sample size, quality and demographic representation to establish blood reference ranges by using samples collected between 2004 and 2015 from wild monk seals of multiple age classes (n=65 seals; 28 adults, 18 subadults, 8 juveniles, 11 weaned pups). Samples were analyzed by a single veterinary diagnostic laboratory within 24 hours of collection from apparently healthy, free-ranging wild seals sampled opportunistically during population monitoring and research activities. Reference ranges were developed for 50 complete blood cell counts and serum chemistry parameters using the mean of the values within two standard deviations. While there are several possible approaches to establishment of reference ranges, this method was chosen to maintain consistency with those used by the veterinary diagnostic laboratory most commonly used for sample analysis. Key indices evaluated include total white blood cell count (WBC; mean- 8.145 K/uL, SD-1.73 ), red blood cell count (RBC; mean- 3.397 M/uL, SD- 0.46), hematocrit (mean- 51.56%, SD- 4.99), and total serum protein (TP; mean- 7.625g/dL, SD- 0.81). The development of comprehensive hematology and serum chemistry reference ranges for Hawaiian monk seals will enable more consistent and systematic interpretation of results, which will aid in the assessment and treatment of seals in rehabilitation and the determination of health status of seals sampled during translocation and other research/recovery activities.

This data set includes physical specimens, paper logs and Freezerworks database of all logged information on specimens collected from Hawaiian monk seals since 1975. Information collected on specimens include animal ID's, dates, preservation methods, storage locations, where specimens were analyzed, and results of analyses. Specimens collected are either Non-invasive specimens collected either from dead animals (e.g., tissues, skeletal samples, body fluids, etc.) or samples are collected from live animals by collecting scats, molts, spews, etc. that are found on the beach near live animals. Invasive specimen collection includes tissue plugs collected when animals are tagged, or health screening/survey samples that are collected during animal restraint. Samples are collected by PSD personnel and cooperating scientists as part of the ongoing health and disease, population genetics, and foraging ecology assessment. Specimens are housed at PIFSC Dole Street office, Kewalo Research Facility, and Ford Island.

This project investigates the dietary consumption of Hawaiian monk seals using traditional dietary analysis of fecal and regurgitate samples. Samples are collected opportunistically at haul out locations throughout the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Main Hawaiian Islands. Information collected during sample collection includes seal identifications and location of collection. Following cleaning and drying protocols, samples are analyzed and prey hard parts are identified to lowest taxonomic resolution. Identification is made to at least Family level, but often Genus, and occasionally Species level.

This data set contains records for all handling and measurement of Hawaiian monk seals since 1981. Live seals are handled and measured during a variety of events including tagging, instrumenting, disentangling, translocation, and health screening by PSD personnel and cooperating scientists as part of the ongoing monk seal population assessment and recovery efforts. In addition, this data set contains measurements of dead seals collected during necropsy and handlings for all seals that were tagged by USFWS in earlier years, and still present in the population when the current research effort began. These handling records extend as far back as 1967. The remainder of the USFWS handling data (data for seals that disappeared prior to the inception of the PSD research program) are housed at PIFSC in paper form.

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for endangered Hawaiian monk seal pupping and haul-out sites. Vector points in this data set represent Hawaiian monk seal pupping and haul-out sites. Species-specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for Hawaii. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the M_MAMMAL data layer, part of the larger Hawaii ESI database, for additional marine mammal information.

This data set contains records of survival factors recorded by PSD personnel and cooperating scientists as part of the ongoing monk seal population assessment efforts, and some miscellaneous earlier records extending back as far as 1977. Survival factors are defined as any unique event, or series of events that may affect the survival of an individual seals. Data are recorded for all deaths, probable deaths, suspicious disappearances, and moderate to severe injuries. Other recorded events include entanglement, observed male aggression, emaciation, ill or abnormal condition, oiling, or a seal out of habitat. Most data (since 1996) have been entered, however much of the older data are housed at PIFSC in paper form.

The data set contains records of all entanglements of Hawaiian monk seals in marine debris. The data set comprises records of seals entangled by derelict fishing gear, plastic items such as rings or packing bands, or other items of human provenance. Records are also included of seals which have girdling scars characteristic of having been entangled, even if no direct entanglement was observed. The data include number of incidents, not number of individual seals (since some animals have been entangled multiple times). The data do NOT include incidents in which seals become entangled in fishing gear while it is being actively fished. Data include primarily reports from field biologists in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Data set is now complete. Ongoing data on entanglements are recorded in the Hawaiian monk seal Survival Factor dataset.

This data set documents observers that have collected monk seal data as part of the ongoing monk seal population assessment efforts by PSD personnel and cooperating scientists. Information includes observer initials, affiliation, and contact information.

The data set contains records of all documented hookings and/or entanglements of Hawaiian monk seals with actively fished gear, both commercial and recreational. The data do NOT include fishery interactions in which seals take the bait or the catch without becoming hooked or entangled. Data include 1) reports from the public or field biologists of seals sighted with embedded hooks; 2) reports from the public or field biologists of seals entangled in nearshore gillnets within the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI); 3) NMFS observer reports, and 4) fishery logbooks. Reports from the public are followed up by field biologists to verify the incident. Seals observed entangled in nearshore gillnets in the MHI are generally considered to have become entangled while the gear was being actively fished, rather than when the gear may have been derelict.