MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: July 2017

Monday, July 31, 2017

7/31/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: Video Clips of Mom&Pups Rocky & Kaimana - Ua Malie and PO4

Ua Malie and PO4

7/31/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: Benny(RE74)&Pohaku(RO28), RL42, RIP(RR70)

At 6:15 am Team Billand saw two seals hauling out at Waikomos. ID'd prove to be Benny RE74, and Pohaku RO28. Benny approached her aggressively, she put him off, they barked out an argument and then settled for the day high up on shore. Hotline was called and volunteer was on site. Team Billand departed at 8:40 am.

Team Billand's next find was RL42 at Makua Cliffs. She was up on the rocks alone and resting. She was still there after their 40 minute walk.

In Maili Team Billand found RIP RR70 on his own resting on the lower rocks. He was there in the morning and in the afternoon. Had some visitors who were happy to talk about seals with Barbara.

Gayle stopped by Waikiki this morning and caught mom&pup having a water session. There was a swimmer doing laps, but according to Gayle he was unaware of the seals. When she returned in the afternoon mom&pup were snoozing on the beach.

Gayle also looked for Right Spot at Kaupo Beach but came up empty. But she did take a peak at Rabbit Island and found a UU sleeping up against a tree branch on shore.

Last but by no means least Posse pal Vicki had a visit with Ua Maili and PO4. Thank you Vicki!

Benny & Pohaku

ba ba ba Benny !!

back off Benny boy!

settled in and all is quiet

RL42 @ Makua Cliffs

RIP @ Maili

UU at Rabbit Island

Rocky RH58 and PO3 Kaimana

Ua Malie and PO4

7/31/2017 Important Scientific Information - Thank you Benny and the Genes

Good Read... this is an exciting time in monk seal research!

https://pifscblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/27/benny-and-the-genes/

July 31, 2017 Happy 17th Birthday Rocky !!

Happy Birthday Rocky RH58/59
Born on Kauai July 31, 2000.
First seen on Oahu in 2003
First pup on Kauai in 2006.

Rocky will be forever known for giving birth at Kaimana Beach this year. I just saw the footage of Mom and Pups separation, rescue and being reunited on ABC news!

We can hope by all this public attention it will continue to raise the awareness and care for this critically endangered animal!

Sunday, July 30, 2017

7/30/2017 Monk Seal Dailies:

Fun day Sunday! POHAKU back on Oahu !! Team Billand found Pohaku R028 and Ka'ena R040 at Waikomos at 6 am. Apparently there was a net off shore and a couple of men were in the water and retrieved it. Pohaku and Ka'ena hauled out. Pohaku looking a little thin. Team Billand called the hotline. They stayed until 8:30 am, volunteer showed up at 8:00 with signs.

After Team Billan left Pohaku and Ka'ena they found RL42 at Makua Cliffs tucked away on the rocks alone.

Team Billands last find of the day was Ka'ale at Kahe sleeping until a wave hit him and he galumphed up higher. Barbara noticed a fishing line coming from his mouth. She didn't see any hook attached, but the line was coming out of right corner of mouth, next to the old hook. They immediately notified NOAA.

Marilyn went to Makai Pier for a couple of hours to check out Rabbit Island. She only saw one seal who will go down as a U/U. While at the pier she spied an adult seal at Kaupo Beach Park near surfing beach. It turned out to be Right Spot (R016) which was confirmed by Gayle M who is in the picture (Hi Gayle!)

At 1522 she received a call via DB's cell from HPD reporting a seal at Sandy Beach near the sewer outfall. She did a quick run over, called the hotline and took pictures and left while HPD was still on site. Marilyn ID'd Buster from the dark patch on his upper left chest, his male belly and left eye scar.

Mail from Gayle confirmed Right Spot at Kaupo Beach Park and Buster at Sandy Beach. Gayle hung out until 19:20 at Sandys' with a volunteer.

Pohaku RO28 and Ka'ena RO40

RL42

Ka'ale

Geesh !! poor little guy

U/U at Rabbit Island

Right Spot

Buster

Saturday, July 29, 2017

7/29/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: Right Spot R016, RL42, Ka'ale RH32, Ka'ena RO40, Luana RN58, Ua Malie RT10&PO4

Today's Dailies cover a lot of beach.... thank you to Gayle, Team Billand, Marilyn and hiking partner Diane. We start the dailies with Gayle finding Right Spot once again at Kaupo Beach (it's almost a month now she's been here)... wonder what she's up to? (Only Right Spot knows)

Team Billand reported RL42 at Makua Cliffs early morning and she remained there through out the day and was still there on their last check after 5pm.

Team Billands' next find was Ka'ale at Kahe. He still has the tiny hook which is getting rusty but he's still doing fine. They did multiple checks throughout the day and he remains in snooze mode.

Marilyn did her Saturday trek to Ka'ena Point with Diane from the Mokuleia side. At 8:29 am they located Luana RN58 at 10 minute beach. She was there at 12:10 on their way out. She was ID'd by female belly, newly molted coat, upper chest scar and RN58 tag.

At 9:40 am they found RO40 Ka'ena in BGs pool. He was still there when they returned at 11:05. He was ID'd by male belly, dorsal pit scar, forehead scar and N9 applied beach.

At 10:04, they spotted an animal on the beach at the east end of Ka'ena's Pool. This seal proved to be RW02, Kauai PV (permanent visitor). He had departed when they returned. He was ID'd by male belly and RW14 tag.

They has been at the main pool for a bit when they suddenly realized there was a submerged seal. He then headed to the "slot" and left the main pool. He then tried to haul out on the back beach, but when some visitors approached to get photos he left. ID'd by small dorsal pit scar and R47 tag.

After leaving Ka'ena Point Marilyn and Diane arrived at Turtle Bay at 2:00 to check in on RT10 Ua Malie and PO4. Initially the pup was difficult to see since he was hiding behind Momma and near the rocks at side of the pool.

Right Spot