It was a long, hard day, for a whole lot of people. My day began routinely enough , finding RIP and M&M close together right of 1BS on Rabbit Island. I continued on with the rest of the route. Just as I was finishing up at Spitting Cave, at 0758 I got a call from Terry Kerby (godfather of Kerby), the Chief Pilot at the HURL Sub Facility at Makai Pier, reporting that he was looking at a large seal lazily floating just below his office window. When I got back at 0815 I found that the animal was Kermit (R012), and distressingly, he had a large fish hook in the left side of his mouth. The entire left side of his face was swollen, with the left eye swollen shut. His behavior was very lethargic, floating in the shallows on the Makapuu side of the pier. I made all the necessary calls and continued observation on Kermit until he began to swim into deeper water and diving at the #7 channel pillar, behind the breakwater. I did not see him again after that, despite multiple trips along the coastline from Sandy Beach to Kaiona Beach Park, and of course RI observations until 1700. David Schofield remained at the pier for quite a while but with no further sightings it was decided that I would contact him if anything occurred. Kermit had last been seen at the Nimitz Beach jetty in the SWQ on 4-16-09.
At 1025 I got a call from Team Billand , reporting that Yoke's (Yokohama Beach) lifeguards (Koa & Aaron) had called them reporting 2 animals there. Since the Billands could not respond, I called Thea to activate another responded. Bob Butterworth ultimately responded and his photos confirmed the animals at Benny and Ka'ena. An addition call from the lifeguards, and Bob's photos confirmed that one of the animals did have a fish hook in it's mouth. The fish hook team responded ad David Schofield called at 1508 advising that the fish hook had been successfully removed at 1455, and the ID was confirmed as Ka'ena (RO40). Team Billand also confirmed the Benny ID, at 1600, but Ka'ena was no longer there. Benny has begun his molt, based on Bob's photos.
Posse person , Lesley MacPherson called at 1100 reporting that a friend had seen an animal at Diamond Head. Posse person Rachel ultimately responded an staked out Irma near the "graffitti bunker" at Diamond Head. A dusk email from Colleen confirmed that Irma was still there. Aloha, DB
At 1025 I got a call from Team Billand , reporting that Yoke's (Yokohama Beach) lifeguards (Koa & Aaron) had called them reporting 2 animals there. Since the Billands could not respond, I called Thea to activate another responded. Bob Butterworth ultimately responded and his photos confirmed the animals at Benny and Ka'ena. An addition call from the lifeguards, and Bob's photos confirmed that one of the animals did have a fish hook in it's mouth. The fish hook team responded ad David Schofield called at 1508 advising that the fish hook had been successfully removed at 1455, and the ID was confirmed as Ka'ena (RO40). Team Billand also confirmed the Benny ID, at 1600, but Ka'ena was no longer there. Benny has begun his molt, based on Bob's photos.
Posse person , Lesley MacPherson called at 1100 reporting that a friend had seen an animal at Diamond Head. Posse person Rachel ultimately responded an staked out Irma near the "graffitti bunker" at Diamond Head. A dusk email from Colleen confirmed that Irma was still there. Aloha, DB
Kermit
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Ka'ena
Koa & Aaron at Yokohama Beach-BB.jpg)
It saddens me to think Kermit is out there hurting. I pray we find him soon. Hmmm does anyone else think its interesting that Kerby and Kermit made there way back to Papa DB? I know DB you must be worried sick. Let's hope this has a good ending.
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3 comments:
It makes me sad to see pictures of Kermit and read the stories of Hawaiian Monk Seals with fish hooks stuck to their beautiful bodies. Where are the seals encountering these fish hooks; Leeward, North, South or East shores? Too bad a few people are irresponsible when it comes to using and protecting our natural resources. This in turn causes great harm to our Aumakua, Hawaiian Monk Seal and other life that inhabit the ocean. We shall ask Kanaloa to keep watch over Kermit and bring him home, safely.
Third hooked seal.What is happening? We couldnt find Kermit at his usual hang outs and we had searched for 5 days, and on the 6th day Kermit shows up at Makai Pier with DB. Yes I feel an enormous connection between DB and these precious critters. They know Daddy DB is out there every single day for them,they know he will do all he can to protect them,always!!! Thank you seal responders for dehooking Kaena at Yokohama Beach Yesterday. We hope you can do the same for Kermit. Is there a tournament going on and these poor Monk Seals are innocently hooked??? What are we supposed to do??? How can we stop this tradgey from happening again and again? Are Monk Seals not safe in their own seas? It scares my soul,I feel helpless. What is the answer? We can only do so much. I repeat, thanks to all who participated in the dehooking event, you are all HEROES!! And thanks to the lifeguards who noticed the hook with Kaena 040/041yesterday.The day has begun, please, lets pray Kermit is also FREED!!! We got to keep the faith, it will turn out ok. It will be ok. Long live the Hawaiian Monk Seals! Come on, we can do this folks!!!!! BAH!!!!!!!!
I'm hoping Kermit hauls up on RI while DB is watching so he can be treated and healed...today, please. Before the weather gets bad.
My body's at work, but my heart is with Kermit. <3
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