WAIMEA, Hawaii, July 6 (UPI) -- Veterinarians removed a fish hook from a rare Hawaiian monk seal, learning much about the species before releasing it back to the ocean Tuesday.
The doctors from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operated on the seal 20 days ago to remove a fish hook lodged in its esophagus.
This is the second surgical procedure of its kind performed on a monk seal.
"If the fish hook had not been removed, infection may have set in, and he may have died," Dr. Robert Braun, a Hawaii veterinarian specializing in marine mammals, said in a statement. "Now he has a much better chance of survival, and we have gained valuable experience and knowledge about the species."
Hawaiian monk seals are a rare species only found in the islands. They were heavily hunted in the 1800s and today their number stands at about 1,300. In 1976, they were listed as an endangered species.
The 20-year-old male seal was first observed June 4 with a fishing line trailing from its mouth. It took marine experts nearly a week to catch him as he swam around Kauai, the westernmost of the main islands, to elude his captors.
