Carribean Monk Head Seal become extinction!!

I read the title from our local newspaper a few days ago. Then I remembered, the seals I saw on Fisherman Wharf in USA a few years back. I did some research and find out that throughout the world, there have been three known species of monk seals: Hawaiian, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Caribbean monk seals were last sighted in 1952. The species is now thought to be extinct. Mediterranean monk seals continue to survive in small numbers in isolated caves and beaches rarely visited by humans in the Mediterranean. The present population of Mediterranean monk seals is believed to be between 500 and 1,000 individuals and is thought to be declining. The population of the Hawaiian monk seal is currently estimated to be between 1,500 and 1,200 individuals. They are considered an endangered species.


Caribbean monk seals used to be found in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the west Atlantic Ocean. They probably preferred to haul out at sites (low sandy beaches above high tide) on isolated and secluded atolls and islands, but occasionally would visit the mainland coasts and deeper waters offshore. This species may have fed in shallow lagoons and reefs.
Despite broad and intensive surveys, this species has not been seen since the early 1950s. Sightings of Caribbean monk seals are occasionally reported, but these are most likely harbor seals, hooded seals, harp seals that have ventured a long distance from their normal habitats.

Caribbean monk seals were killed by hunters beginning when Spanish explorers arrived from Europe (~1494). Besides early explorers, fisherman, sailors, and whalers targeted and/or opportunistically took this species for its fur hides, meat, and oil. Hunters were able to closely approach these seals due to their non-aggressive and tame behavior. They were also captured and killed for display in museums and zoos.

Kyle Baker, a biologist for NOAA's Fisheries Service southeast region, said the species is the only seal to become extinct from human causes. How? Because of humans hunting the docile creatures for research, food and blubber left the population unsustainable and also of fishing, coastal development and other exploitation activities infringed on these animals may have caused them to abandon their critical and vital habitat or depleted their prey and also face different types of challenges, including entanglement in marine debris, climate change resources.
Monk seals are particularly sensitive to human disturbance. And the sea creatures have been losing their food supply and beaches, officials say.

"Once Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean were teeming with fish, but these are areas under severe fishing pressure," said Vicki Cornish, a wildlife expert at the Ocean Conservancy, "They'll eat almost anything - shellfish or finned fish - but their food supply is waning and they're in competition with man."
As the time is running out, there is great need to continued support from organizations and the public if we are to have a chance at saving it from extinction
And for the Caribbean monk seal, NOAA said it is working to have them removed from the endangered species list. Species are removed from the list when their populations are no longer threatened or endangered, or when they are declared extinct.
So Sad....