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By Maria Azzurra Volpe
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A scuba diver from Hawaii was livestreaming her dive on her social media channels when all of a sudden, an extremely rare and endangered creature approached her, stunning internet users with the incredible encounter.
In the viral video shared to TikTok last month under the username @divedivelive, Brittany Ziegler, is seen diving off the west shore of Maui, filming tropical fish of all colors and sizes, when suddenly a Hawaiian monk seal starts swimming alongside her, demanding attention.
"We had an unexpected visitor on today's dive. Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered, and extremely special to encounter. You never know what's going to happen on live," the video's caption reads.
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Ziegler told Newsweek that it is very rare to see a monk seal at this dive site and even more unique to have a seal come over to interact.
"I did not notice the monk seal until it was 'in my face' actively attempting to get my attention, so obviously, I was excited and a bit stunned. At first, I couldn't even comprehend what it was, and when I realized it was an endangered monk seal the 'oh my gods' wouldn't stop coming," she said.
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Hawaiian Monk Seals Are in Decline
Hawaiian monk seals are among the most endangered species in the world, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, an official website of the United States government.
Their population, which has been in decline for over six decades, is estimated to be around 1,600, with nearly 1,200 seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and 400 seals in the main Hawaiian Islands.
According to Britannica, monk seals all over the world have been hunted extensively for fur, oil, and meat, and while some species are critically endangered, others, like the Carribean monk seals, have completely gone extinct.
Among the many threats they face, Hawaiian monk seals also have a high entanglement rate caused by marine debris and derelict fishing gear, which often catches pups and juveniles.
TikTok Users React
Ziegler's video quickly went viral on TikTok and it has so far received over 46,100 views and 3,850 likes on the platform.
User Naya418 commented: "Omg it was such a magical dive today. Thank you for taking us with you."
SharleneAustin posted: "And the best part was she kept coming around you a few more times."
Lady J added: "The 1st time I had one swim by me in the water, I about had a heart attack! They are so big!"
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