Nature is beautiful, majestic, and, let’s be honest, occasionally completely ridiculous. While we often look to the animal kingdom for grace and survival instincts, sometimes we get… well, we get a critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal with a spotted eel stuck up its nose.
The Essentials
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Scientists are baffled by endangered Hawaiian monk seals snorting eels up their noses.
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Is it a clumsy dietary mishap or are juvenile seals following a viral teenage trend?
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Discover the strange truth behind this slippery mystery and how researchers intervene.
This isn’t a one-off glitch in the Matrix. It’s happened multiple times, baffling scientists and delighting the internet. But why? Is it a fashion statement? A dietary mishap? Or just a bored teenager acting out? Let’s dive into one of the weirdest ocean mysteries of the last decade.
A Snotty Situation in Paradise
Delve Deeper
Imagine you are a researcher for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), monitoring the sandy atolls of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. You spot a juvenile monk seal—one of only about 1,500 left in the wild. It looks healthy, it looks happy, but there is a long, wiggly “snot” dangling from its nostril.
Upon closer inspection, that snot turns out to be a fully grown eel.
The first case was reported around 2016, and since then, “eels in noses” has become a recurring, albeit rare, phenomenon. In every instance, the seal seems mildly annoyed but otherwise fine. The eel, however? Let’s just say the eel does not survive the encounter.
The Theories: Regurgitation or Self-Defence?
Scientists are still scratching their heads, but they have a few theories. The first is the “regurgitation” hypothesis. Monk seals are voracious eaters who often swallow their prey whole. It is possible that a seal gulped down an eel, the eel wiggled the wrong way during digestion, and the seal effectively snorted it back out. Think of it as the marine equivalent of laughing while drinking milk and having it come out of your nose—only much, much slimier.
The second theory is “cornered prey.” Monk seals forage by shoving their faces into coral crevices and under rocks to flush out food. A panicked eel, with nowhere to run, might have seen the seal’s open nostril as a cave and made a desperate dash for safety. It’s a tragic miscalculation for the eel, but a strangely logical one.
Teenage Rebellion in the Animal Kingdom?
Here is where it gets weirdly relatable. Almost all the seals found with eels in their noses have been juveniles. This has led to a more amusing hypothesis: it’s a trend.
Just as human teenagers engaged in “planking” or eating Tide Pods (please don’t do that), young seals might be mimicking each other. Charles Littnan, a lead scientist at NOAA, jokingly suggested it could be a “teenage trend.” One seal does it, gets a reaction, and suddenly all the cool kids at French Frigate Shoals are sporting nasal accessories. It reminds us of the strange cultural transmission we see in other animals, like orcas wearing dead salmon as hats (yes, that actually happened in the 80s).
See the Weirdness for Yourself
Hawaii is a land of endless natural wonder, from its volcanic peaks to its mysterious marine life. If you have ever dreamed of visiting the home of the monk seal (and hopefully seeing them eel-free), Hawaiian Airlines offers flights that can get you to these magical islands.
For those who prefer to keep their feet dry but still want to support ocean life, you can find incredible marine-themed art and eco-friendly gifts on Etsy. Or, if you want to directly help protect endangered species like our friends the monk seals, consider browsing GreaterGood, where your purchases help fund conservation projects.
The Serious Side of the Silliness
While the mental image of a seal with a nose-eel is funny, the reality for Hawaiian monk seals is fragile. They are one of the most endangered seal species on the planet. They face threats from climate change, entanglement in fishing gear, and disease.
Every time researchers have to restrain a seal to pull a two-foot eel out of its nose (a process that takes about 45 seconds of gentle tugging), it’s a reminder of how closely we need to watch over these animals. Thankfully, in all recorded cases, the seals were released unharmed, likely feeling a massive sense of relief and breathing a lot easier.
In Pure Spirit
It seems that no matter the species, teenagers will always find a way to baffle their elders. Whether it’s a dietary accident or a bizarre trend, the eel-in-nose phenomenon is a reminder that nature still has plenty of surprises left for us. What do you think? Is this just a clumsy meal, or are seals having a laugh at our expense? Let us know in the comments below.
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