LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A team of biologists and volunteers removed a large fishing hook from a sub-adult Hawaiian monk seal's mouth on a Kaua'i beach Saturday.

The animal, a 2 1/2-year-old female, had been fat and healthy when last photographed several months ago, but appeared to have lost as much as 80 pounds recently, perhaps because of the hook's interfering with her feeding, said Mimi Olry, a veterinarian and Kaua'i marine conservation coordinator with the state Division of Aquatic Resources.

"She had lost considerable weight," Olry said.

Security officers at the Pacific Missile Range Facility spotted the hooked seal on the beach at Polihale on Kaua'i's west side Friday. An attempt Friday to capture the seal and remove the hook was unsuccessful.

The animal was held down as the end of the hook was clipped off, and it was eased out of an infected abscess in the seal's cheek. The animal was released without further incident.

The team that handled the emergency procedure included Olry, NOAA Fisheries biologist John Henderson, marine mammal veterinarian Bob Braun of the Hawaiian islands Stranding Response Team, and volunteer Adam Moore, with Navy officials from the Pacific Missile Range Facility standing by.

"Everyone did their part. This kind of thing just has to be done collaboratively," said Jeff Walters, of the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources.

Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered species, with fewer than 1,500 surviving.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.