T15M Sharkbite @ White Plains
This is my good flipper
I got a piece of shell stuck in my tooth... anyone have floss?
This is not my good side. Yes this poor critter most likely was bitten by a shark... not once but twice!
Pretty Girl M+M at Tracks
Benny @ KoOlina
sending team billand a hug
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3 comments:
I would like to thank the man in the photo, MAT. He has been at the Cabins and he been talking seal with us for the week. Well, he is a very nice gentlemen who decided to help us out in more than one occasion and yesterday he put the perimeter up for us around Sharkbite. We call him our Cabin Volunteer,he dont hesitate to do things for the seals. Thanks Mat!!
Got home very late last night, so the report didnt get to DB, instead to Donna, who waited till the wee hours of the morning. Appreciated that Donna.
Rob and I were very excited when Mat called to say a seal was up at Plains..when we came to site, saw the animal, it was a shock to meet...Sharkbite. He is MY hero!! How this seal got beyond one shark attack, then another, is an extraordinary thing. He is a survivor, no matter how much pain he endured, how mangled a body he has..he continued to keep going..he lived!! That is something I can say a HUMAN can do in hard times, NEVER GIVE UP, JUST KEEP GOING!! Fight Back! Sharkbite is truly amazing!! I observed how he moves, different than other normal seals. Low to the ground, tilted a bit. Also when he had an itch, he used the other flipper, the stubb just lay on his side. He lifted his head up, turned to the good flipper. Pretty cool. Even the wallow was different. SO, I had to photograph this animal before me..MY HERO!! Rob and I talked to folks with Pride, explaining all about him. All were very interested. Kids just stared! Adults thinking how amazing HE IS.
M and M was found at Tracks..she fooled me. Pohaku is normally at that spot. When I didnt see all the scars on the right side..I went, who the heck is this??? She is tuff to id, not many scars to go on. But I figured it out.
Now for Benny, the bugga found a very nice Lagoon at KoOlina, not very crowded, respectful folks. He was quite alert, posturing at times as kids screamed playing close by. He would snort as if discusted with all the yelling, turn his body, pretty funny. It was quite later in the day, we still had sharkbite to care for, so we left Benny alone, with Security. They had put out four signs, with no ropes. We told Security, The Benny is a smart seal, very alert,and will snort if you get too close. He is like the GODFATHER, CAPISH???
For us, yesterday was very long, trying at times, but we got through the day ok, minus one thing. So we were super late...THANKS DONNA, for waiting!!
I am amazed by Sharkbite (T15M) too. Here is some more info I got from the Seal Whisperer. If the dates are correct he must be at least 30 years old, which may make him the oldest seal that visits Oahu.
T15M (Sharkbite) is an adult, untagged male, first seen as an adult at the time in 1987 on Laysan. He is one of the 1994 translocatees. His markers are a missing right fore flipper. (it was already missing in 1987), and a large Tiger Shark scar on his right side, posterior.
Any more you can add, DB?
I too love Sharkbite.... at the very least he speaks to this species ability to survive the odds, given the chance.
Barb, no worries, we all the know the blog isn't the same without the addition of Team Billand!
As far as his history... it was my understanding, the bite on his body was pretty fresh when first seen on Oahu.
Amazing he is approaching 30, he and chester must have been buddies, well when they weren't competing for a wahine... back when they were young whippersnappers.
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