Endangered Hawaiian Animals

When the population of a single animal species becomes so small it is in immediate danger of becoming extinct, the species is considered endangered. A significant population decrease can be due to loss of habitat, predators, both human and animal, invasive plants and interbreeding with other species. The wildlife of Hawaii has experienced all of these problems, leaving some of its animals endangered.

  1. Hawaiian Hoary Bat

    • Due to habitat loss and disturbance, pesticides and predation, the population of Hawaiian hoary bats has significantly declined, though the current population of the species is unknown. These little creatures weigh only 5 to 8 ounces and have a wingspan of 10 1/2 to 13 1/2 inches. Female bats generally grow larger than the males. A heavy brown and gray fur covers the bat while its ears are tinted with white. The Hawaiian hoary bat dines on insects that live around streams, bays and along the coast. A nocturnal creature, the hoary bat leaves its roost just before sunset and returns before sunrise. To help restore the Hawaiian hoary bat to a robust population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services has created a research and recovery program.

    Hawaiian Monk Seal

    • Nearly killed off due to commercial sealing in the 1800s, the Hawaiian monk seal was once thought to be extinct, only to be rediscovered and placed on the endangered species list. Monk seals have gray skin and silvery-gray bellies. They can reach a weight of 600 pounds and a length of 7 feet. The seals spend their days lying on the sand, remaining close to the water so they don't overheat. They feast on crustaceans, fish, lobsters, eels and octopuses. The female's pregnancy lasts for 11 months and produces only one pup. The animals' survival is still threatened by humans pestering pregnant or nursing females, reef poisoning and shark attack. Islands have been reserved for the Hawaiian monk seal to protect and preserve the species.

    Hawaiian Duck

    • Loss of wetland due to drainage and foreign plant intrusion, interbreeding with wild mallard ducks and predators have put the Hawaiian duck on the endangered list. A male Hawaiian duck can have a dark green crown and neck with a red breast, or he may have the same brown plumage as the female ducks. The male is larger than the female. The Hawaiian duck makes its home in coastal swamps, freshwater ponds, bogs and streams. These birds survive by eating grass seeds, crustaceans and insects. The ducks mate year-round and can lay as many as 10 eggs at a time. The Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge protects the species, though the ducks have been introduced on other Hawaiian islands.