All Island Update from David Schofield

Aloha friends of the monk seal!

This weekend was a big weekend for the monk seal response network. Attached are some images. Here is what we had:

1. State wide monk seal count occurred (the numbers are still coming in so it may be higher)
Kauai -16
Oahu - 7
Molokai - 11
Kahoolawe - 1
Maui - 0
Lanai - 0
Big Island - 0

For this 5th count the total was 35 animals which is right on par with the other 4 counts. We know we have certain seals in certain areas of the 3 islands that did not count any seals but they failed to show themselves in the allotted time frame.

2. HMSRTO volunteers were set up at the MCBH Earth Day from 9-2 on Saturday to highlight the MCBH and NMFS partnership for monk seal recovery. Volunteers produced a display of KP2 and R042 with a thanks to the MCBH for allowing us to house these seals on base.
3. Seal 040 "Kaena" born at Kaena Point in 2007 was found to have a hook in his mouth. He hauled out at Kaena Point about1 hour after the seal count was over at 2PM on Saturday. Since this time we have had volunteers out each day and he was observed yesterday. The hooking does not appear life threatening and since he is hauled out most of the time on hard rock the dehooking team has to wait until he is on soft sand or coral rubble to remove the hook.

HMSRTO volunteers are scheduled to monitor Kaena Point everyday through this upcoming weekend and will report daily to PIRO and PIFSC. A NMFS team will respond when the seal can be restrained safely.

4. A monk seal pup was born on Maui on a very remote beach near Hana.. The beach is near the ranch owned by Oprah so hopefully we can get some mileage out of that for public awareness. Joe McDonald provided the report last night and traveled there today. An initial report suggested that the pup was kicked by some camper/squatters. When Joe followed up with the MPD in Hana, the incident was described as a person went to shake the pup because they thought it dead...just sleeping and the mom was aggressive. Both OLE and DOCARE were made aware of the situation. Joe is working with MPD, DOCARE and the ranch managers to ensure the safety of the mom and pup. The ranch hands are very excited about the pup and are trying to find accommodations for volunteers to be able to be in close proximity for spot checks of the pair. Joe reports from the field that mom and pup are healthy and the decomposing placenta is still on the beach so it was likely a very recent birth. The mother is tentatively identified as RH44, a well known breeder that has pupped most often on Kalaupapa.

5. Late Sunday night (last night) Mimi Olry called and stated that she had a report of a dead seal on Kauai. Once on seen the animal was identified as I19, a 4 year old male.

A special thanks to all who had their weekend disrupted for these events. Let's hope for a quiet weekend coming.

Mahalo
David

T. David Schofield, M.Sc.
Interim Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Coordinator
Marine Mammal Response Network Coordinator
NOAA/NMFS/PIRO
1601 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1110
Honolulu, HI 96814
Cell 808-721-5343
Office 808-944-2269
Fax: 808-944-2141
David.Schofield@Noaa.Gov