Press Watch, Honolulu Advertiser, October 20, 2009
Ailment prevents endangered animal from being set free
The first Hawaiian monk seal successfully raised from birth in captivity was diagnosed with cataracts after being plucked from Kaunakakai Harbor on Friday, which means he won’t be going back to the wild.
It’s rare to see cataracts in a seal so young.
At under 2 years old, the seal — called KP2 — is still considered an adolescent. […]
“Every individual is important to the population,” said David Schofield, NOAA marine mammal response coordinator.
Schofield said it’s believed KP2 developed cataracts at a young age because he missed out on mother’s milk.
So far, Schofield said, scientists have been unable to create a formula that matches the richness of natural seal milk.
KP2 will spend the rest of his life in captivity. Hawaiian monk seals live to be about 25 to 30 years old.
“He will likely spend the rest of his days,” Schofield said, “as an ambassador for monk seals.” […]