HALEIWA, Hawaii — NOAA Fisheries confirmed a dog attacked and killed a newborn monk seal pup on the North Shore of Oahu last month.

“Puncture wounds on the pup occurred prior to death and were consistent in size with bites from a dog. Hemorrhaging found in the pup’s body was consistent with shaking from a dog attack,” said NOAA Fisheries in a news release. 

The female monk seal pup was born to Luana (also known as RN58) and the pair was first sighted together on May 23. NOAA fisheries said the dog attack occurred that same evening.

NOAA Fisheries said the loss is even more impactful knowing the monk seal pup was a female, who could’ve birthed generations of new seals, helping in the recovery of endangered Hawaiian monk seals. 

The NOAA Office of Law Enforcement is investigating and said an individual is cooperating with officials. 

This is the third known death of a monk seal from a dog attack. Last year, a 3-month-old female monk seal was killed by a dog on Oahu. Hoʻomau Lehua (also known as RS48) had puncture wounds around her head and flippers that NOAA said were consistent with bites from a dog. In 2014, another pup (RFX4) was killed by a dog on Kauai. 

NOAA Fisheries said monk seal mothers and pups should be given at least 150 feet of space and people should keep their dogs leashed when at the beach. 

The federal agency also asks people to protect endangered Hawaiian monk seals by reporting sightings, injuries and strandings to the statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: 888-256-9840.