The Caribbean monk seal has been declared extinct by the NOAA Fisheries Service after a five-year review of the seals’ endangered status. This is the first type of seal that has gone extinct from human causes, says NOAA biologists, who blame overhunting as the primary cause of the seals’ extinction:

“Humans left the Caribbean monk seal population unsustainable after overhunting them in the wild,” said Kyle Baker, biologist for NOAA’s Fisheries Service southeast region. “Unfortunately, this lead to their demise and labels the species as the only seal to go extinct from human causes.” [ENN.com]

The Caribbean monk seal, the only subtropical seal native to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, hasn’t been seen since 1952, and was listed as endangered in 1967. Five-year status reviews are required when species have been put on the list to make sure that – whatever the outcome – their status is accurate. The most recent review of the Caribbean monk seal began in 2003.

Hawaiian monk seals are endangered and at risk of extinction, with a population of approximately 1,200, and which is declining at a rate of 4% per year. takepart and find out what the Marine Conservation Biology Institute is doing to help protect the Hawaiian monk seal, and how you can help.

Related:

• MSNBC: Caribbean monk seal is extinct
• Yahoo: Caribbean monk seal becomes extinct
• Caribbean monk seal gone extinct from human causes, NOAA confirms