Why Do Eels Get Stuck in Hawaiian Monk Seals’ Noses, and Why Do the Seals Seem to Enjoy It?
Hawaiian Monk Seals are critically endangered species, and they are the only seals that live year-round in tropical seas. As their name suggests, this species only lives on islands and atolls near Hawaii.
The photo of the Hawaiian Monk Seal above was taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to NOAA research, there are occasional cases of eels getting stuck in the seals' noses. Strangely, NOAA has monitored monk seals on the northern Hawaiian islands for nearly 40 years, and this situation has only occurred a handful of times, and only started in 2016.
Why do eels get stuck in the seals' noses?
The exact reason is unknown. Researchers have noted that this situation seems to occur in younger seals, possibly because:
Monk seals dive into the sea to forage for food, and for young 'newbies,' they like to eat small animals, burying their faces in coral reefs where eels like to hide to find small fish. When faced with relatively large seals, eels may get bold and attack the seeker's noses to escape danger.
Researchers also put forward a possibility that the seals may eat eels and then regurgitate them… while it sounds a little painful.
When researchers see an eel hanging from a seal's nose, they will grab the eel and gently pull it out, so that the seal can continue its carefree life.
