A male monk seal, named KE18, that was attacking newly weaned pups and juvenile seals will be transported to UC Santa Cruz where it will be used in lab research, according to NOAA.

KE18 will be central to critical and non-invasive energetics, physiology and health and disease studies which will help scientists understand the causes of the monk seal population decline and lead to the development of tools to assist managers. After research is completed (approximately 18 to 24 months), he is expected to return to Hawaii to live out the rest of his days in a public facility (yet to be named) where he will help educate the public about the plight of monk seals and the hope for their recovery.