About HICat

Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries

Hawaiian Monk Seals are highly endangered and endemic species.
Their current population in the Main Hawaiian Islands is ≈ 300.
Toxoplasmosis (Toxo), a disease caused by the microscopic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is a major threat to the seal population.
To date, 13 monk seals have died from toxo. Of the 13, 9 were females, which raises further concerns in seal conservation efforts.
To curb toxo infections, it is crucial to manage cat populations in Hawaiʻi. However, no clear definitions of different cat categories currently exist.
To implement any management policy effectively, we need to have clear definitions!
This project bridges the gap and provides specific definitions that can be implemented on a state-wide scale.