Friday, January 23, 2015

1/23/2015 DB's Dailies: U/U@RI, Haupu&RIP@WP, Pohaku@Kalaeloa Boat Harbor, Benny@Nanakuli, Team Billand

Despite Marilyn, Gayle & myself checking the SE quadrant spots, the only critter noted was found on my 1st Rabbit Island check at 0732. My RI time was limited today, but an appointment. I could not see enough to confirm an ID.

 Team Billand called at 0859 with the report of Haupu (RB24) at the fence line, White Plains.

 At 1036 they advised that Benny (RE74) was a Nanakuli. They called again at 1208 to advise that RIP (RR70) had reportedly joined Haupu at White Plains .

 At 1334 Team Billand advised that Pohaku (RO28) was at the Kalaeloa Boat Harbor.

 The NOAA gang was out in the SW quadrant today, and with input from Team Billand, and evening TV News(KITV), it appears that they transported Haupu,RIP,Benny&Pohaku, to the Ford Island facility due to the uncertainty of the potential for the oil spill associated with the sunken tug boat, fronting the White Plains/Kalaeloa area. Check the TV News for further updates.

Benny at Nanakuli... look out Ben they're back
 Here we go again...
 Team Noaa !!!  Here to help out!
 Haupu hauling out at White Plains
rounding up Pohaku 
 hang on
 all loaded up and heading of the NOAA facility until they know what's going on with this oil spill


6 comments:

Unknown said...

Love NOAA, a government agency that does their job well.

madhatter said...

Looks like NOAH will have to get the fish back out of the freezer. Do they sedate the seals first and wondering how much stress it puts on them. But much better than leaving them there. Will they be kept together at NOAH. That would be so interesting to see pictures and observations.
I guess they had to use the bigger equipment to load the females,Well this time Benny will have company.
It is so great of the measures they take to help these Monk Seals.

madhatter said...

So Sorry NOAA for getting the initials wrong. I think the job they do is so important and hope no one is offended by my mistake. From now on I will preview my post first!

Anonymous said...

Poor Benny. His first recorded time back on shore near people and it's back into the crate! Hope he remembers that this has turned out well before. Wonder if the seals help each other settle down?

Charles said...

Aloha All. Thanks for the support and the questions. We don't sedate the animals unless it appears a seal is especially agitated and would be benefit from it. You would be surprised at how quickly they can acclimate to these sorts of situations. For instance, Pohaku fell asleep in the cage on the way back to Ford Island after being capture and lifted in a crane. They are each kept in separate quarantine pools just so we don't have to worry about separating two seals that don't get along. Their pools are 20 feet in diameter and 4 feet deep. They have plenty of haul out and swimming room for a short term stay. They can't see each other but can hear each other and I do believe that helps some individuals calm down. Mostly we just keep our activities to a minimum around them and they will calm down and rest. However, we are determined to get them out in the wild as soon as we have feel it is the right time. And Madhatter you can spell our initials anyway you want as long as you keep asking good questions.

Donna said...

Thank you Dr. Charles for the information... it's ALWAYS helpful to hear from the professionals...

@madhatter... I actually thought NOAH was a perfect slip... as they were collecting the animals. Also being originally from Massachusetts NOAH sounded perfectly normal to me. :-)