Viral video shows mother monk seal ATTACKING woman who swam too close to her pups
A shocking video shows the moment a nursing monk seal attacked a woman in Hawaii after she swam too close to her and her offsprings.
The mother monk seal is seen in the clip charging at the screaming woman about 20 feet away from the shore in Waikiki, Hawaii. The terrified woman, who has not been identified, was heard screaming before a man on a kayak paddled over to rescue her. The stunning incident took place around 8 am local time on Sunday, July 24, at Kaimana Beach in Honolulu. It later emerged that the woman had been warned by marine life officials about the dangers of swimming in the area.
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The monk seal -- some of whom can grow up to 7.5 feet and can weigh up to 450 pounds -- was reportedly nursing her kids at the time and was likely extra-protective of them as a result. Witness Curt Otsuka, who filmed the viral clip, said the attack was a result of the "mother's instinct to protect her pup." He told Hawaii News Now, "Everybody was yelling careful, careful, get away." Another witness Markus Faigle added, "You heard her screams, this poor woman was terrified."
Nearby beachgoers were quick to respond to the situation and pulled the injured woman from the water. Emergency responders found wounds to her upper arm and she was rushed to the hospital for further medical treatment. Her exact condition is not known at the time of publication. "If it wasn't for the kayak guy paddling over to save her she would have got chomped," Otsuka remarked, adding, "And she was just defending her child and this poor swimmer, my heart goes out to her, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time." He said he filmed the incident because he "had a really bad feeling."
A Hawaiian monk seal attacks a woman who gets too close in Kaimana Beach, where seal pups were born recently. Visitors need to know the rules. This is why it’s against the law in #Hawaii to approach these protected animals, especially mamas who just gave birth. #monkseal pic.twitter.com/0Y9pmnkC2P
— Annalisa Burgos (@AnnalisaBurgos) July 24, 2022
The mother and her pup monk seals are reportedly being monitored by Hawaii's Marine Animal Response team (HMAR). It is unclear if the woman was a local or a tourist, but HMAR officials said she had been warned in advance about the dangers of swimming close to monk seals in the area. Besides, there are several signs and barriers posted around the beach notifying beachgoers of the same.
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"People are again reminded that Hawaiian monk seal moms with pups are protective, can be dangerous, and have inflicted serious wounds on nearby swimmers," HMAR said in a statement. "We continue to warn people not to engage in in-water activities when a monk seal mother with a pup are in the area and to stay at least 150 feet from mother seals with pups." Some complained that beachgoers often ignored warning signs posted on the beaches. "There are signs on this beach here saying give seals space," visitor Jody Newton from Australia noted, "There's enough for people to actually follow the rules and it's very clear." Local retiree Larry added, "These people don't listen to us. They don't even listen to anybody."