Hawaiian Monk Seal — Kenyon and Rice 
239 
Fig. 11. The mother monk seal characteristically attempts to keep her newly born pup under her muzzle or 
behind her when closely approached. The extreme obesity of the female at parturition is illustrated. Kure Atoll, 
June 5, 1957 (KWK 57-18^30). 
and weighing on the day of its birth, it was 
moved down the beach parallel to the water 
for about 50 yards. By the time we had fin- 
ished with it, its bellowing mother had joined 
it. She immediately led the pup to the water 
and both swam slowly along the beach until 
opposite the place of birth. Here the mother 
hauled out and led the pup to the spot from 
which we had removed it. The pup swam 
weakly, head high, and mainly with its 
front flippers. 
Mother and pup usually remain on the 
beach for the first few days. The first time we 
saw a mother in the water (under undisturbed 
conditions) with her pup was the fourth day 
after birth. From this time, she spends short 
periods during the day swimming along the 
shore, closely followed by her pup, after 
which the two return to the general area 
where the pup was born. The mother spends 
much time on the beach where she lies facing 
the water while her pup frolics a yard or two 
