10/1/2017 Monk Seal News - KHON2 Maui monk seal incident

In case you missed the story on the news here is the link to KHON2.  It's unclear to me if the two men did anything to the seal or just got too close. I do think it sends a message, which is good.

http://khon2.com/2017/10/01/monk-seal-incident-on-maui/

6/21/2017 Maui Monk Seal in the News

And then this happened!!
http://khon2.com/2017/06/21/drivers-surprised-to-find-monk-seal-lounging-along-maui-highway/

3/1/2015 More on Maui's RQ21

In case you didn't see the comment from DB from yesterday's post.... meet RQ21 she was born on Molokai in April of 1997 (either the 13th of 14th) ... she has given birth to 11 pups and is probably due to deliver this pup at the end of this month. 

2/28/2015 News from Maui

This is RQ21/Q22 @ Ho'okipa Maui..... Friends were visiting and came across this bathing beauty.... word is she's hapai and due sometime in April.... also seems she goes over to Molokai to give birth. I can't confirm but it's possible she's an oldie but goodie.... maybe 20 something?  

Clearly Kel and Lauray were talking with someone on Maui who was knew this beautiful critter... and thank you ladies for sending the picture in for the blog. 

Footage from Maui - Unknown youngster

Found this footage on the net.... was taken about a week ago on Maui.... Anyone have any clues who this might be?  A youngen for sure!

Kahoolawe Girl

Back in May of 2010 a weaner was tagged by Tracy on Kahoolawe T02 and T03.... Well in today's comments some one on Maui spotted her while diving and left this link to a video.  


This is one of the reason I love this blog and will continue to keep this blog going.... That someone on Maui found information about this seal on the blog... and then wrote a comment about it.... priceless!
So enjoy the video of Kahoolawe Girl.  And Thank You to whoever made the comment.

11-21-11 R307 on Molokini Island

OOPS.... rewind-
It appears no one bothered Lona R307, but wow what a crowd.... it doesn't appear she he felt threatened, thank goodness because that could have been a disaster. Pretty cool how she he was just floating and letting the waves move her him. (thank you Tracy for the correction)

9-26-11 DB Dailies and MORE

The Dawn Patrol found Kaiwi already in her tide pool when we arrived at 0545. She remained in the water until 1030. She hauled out for a one hour rest and then reentered the tide pool, but swam to the east end of the fence line and then back to the tide pool. She was still in the tide pool when I stopped by at 1000. When I checked in with Diane at 1300 she was doing a partial haul out.

 At 0650 I found Buster (RV08) doing erratically timed dives at SC. At 0855 came the find of the day. When I arrived at Kaupo Beach Park, (across from the back entrance to Sea Life Park), I found Irma (R010) for the first time since weaning her pup on Friday. She was snoozin' on the rocks off shore of KPB. She remained there until the rising tide washed her off. I did not see her again today.

 After their little journey to Blowhole yesterday, I found Duke (RA12), and M&;M (R020) back at Rabbit Island today. Duke started at the left end, while M&M was at the right end. Duke would enter the water at 1104 and haul out to join M&M at 1120.

 Team Billand checked in at 0925 with the report of Kermit (R4DG) between Tower #1 and the east end fence line. He would relocate to Kalaeloa Campgrounds at 1045.

 Dera forwarded photos from Nicole, on Maui showing my little buddy Makana (RT24) on that island. Unfortunately the shots document the loss of the end of one of the large lobes on his Left Hind Flipper and his tag is also missing...... Bummer ! First a shark bite on the neck and now this. This boy has had a tough year, for a young dude.

Oh Yeah..... I forgot. Two dog walkers stopped by to say they'd just seen a seal in the estuary at AD, at around 1830, nearing dark. Marilyn, and visiting NOAA dignitary Tracy, walked down to check it out. The found a small animal in the water, with 2 red tags. Everyone's dollar was on Nani, but of course it's very un-NOAA to make that kind of assumption. Okay EVERYONE.... let's send a subliminal message to Ka Iwi to follow Nani.... they can be BFFs. Please Ka Iwi go and play with the other weaner and juveniles

Irma hiding out around the corner

 DB's backyard.... he really knows this place like the back of his hand

 Flipper squats

 Love the image.... great shot

 Big momma as skinny mini

 Makana on Maui..... When I first met him I thought his name should be lucky or survivor, don't know what the Hawaiian translation would be.

 Looks like he put on a little weight.... he's still tiny

Ka Iwi @ dawn in her tide pool 

  Duke 

 M+M and Duke

 Kermit @ White Plains

 Kermit you are in the wrong place for Irma

 Co-existing?

8-8-11 DB Dailies

The day began with Kolohe (RW22) up in the Morning Glory, 40 ft left of 1BS, on Rabbit Island. When I got back to Makai Pier at 0922 I found that Duke (RA12) had joined Kolohe. They were now both at the top of the beach front incline, 60 ft left of 1BS.

At 0948 the lovely Nani (RK60) hauled out to the boy's location and all did some minor nuzzling before entered the water for a swim/play session from 0957 until 1125. They all hauled out together, 40 ft left of 1BS. Duke and Kolohe had no problem climbing the 2 ft cut in the beach front, but little Nani stayed down lower, unable to get her bulbous body up the cut. As the rising tide got to her, she returned to the water, while the boys snoozed away the rest of the day.

Posse members, Alice and Glen called at 1140 reporting that they had seen a swimming seal as they passed the area between Makai Pier and the first houses of Waimanalo. I checked the area from the roadside for an hour, but never found anybody.

Glen and Alice were on their way to visit R5A&Pup, and they sent their photos of the afternoon. The one belly shot is "shake &baked" so inconclusive on the belly bleach. I think it should be visible in that shot if it was there, but I'll withhold judgement until more shots come in. The inside of the right fore flipper was never visible. Great job guy !! Thank You.....very much.

Rachel called from Diamond Head at 0924 to report that she had spent the morning with a totally naked Rocky (RH58) at the showers. At 0924 Rocky entered the water, in Rachel's presence. I've gotten no further reports.

I spoke with Team Billand through the day, and sadly, they had one of those thankfully rare, Skunked days.

Karen Turner came through with yet another piece of video from D#11 with R5AY&P at Turtle Bay. Thank you Karen.

Tracy provided some really happy moments for me today. She advised via email that Makaiwi (R4DF), last seen at Diamond Head on 7-15-11, was sighted on 7-29-11 on the Big Island. It appears as though she is making the same trek that she made back in 2010. Sorry, there were no photos.

As if that weren't neat enough, Tracy also advised that my little pal Makana (RT24) was seen and documented on Maui yesterday, 8-7-11. He popped up in my life back on 12-27-10 at Kaupo Beach Park. You may remember him as the little , juvenile male with the gnarly shark tooth scars on his right side at the neck and shoulder. I'll attach a photo of that visit to jog your memories. He earned his bling, and a bleach (N27) on that stint , and remained in the SE quadrant until 2-4-11, hauling out to Kaupo Beach Park, Makapuu and AD's . After that he just dropped off the face of the earth, until this sight.

Sad news today from the Aquarium, Nuka, their 31 yr old male Monk Seal was euthanized.

 Kolohe, Duke and the lovely, bulbous Nani 

 Rocky with her new coat... looking gorgeous!

 Makana on 12/27/10 ( I had the pleasure of meeting this little munchin with DB and Lesley)

 Makana RT24 on Maui.... so happy to see him looking good and safe.

 R5AY and Pup Thank you posse Alice and Glen

Thank you Karen for the clip!

MORE - Maui Moments

Okay just a little more about our Maui maiden..... Volunteer coordinator Nicole was kind enough to email me more information about I25/I26 - first Nicole has documentation that goes back to 2006, seems RI25/26 has a posse of volunteers who have monitoring her since 2007- apparently she became a first time Mom and went to Molokai to give birth.  (oh and seems molly is a nickname only used by an individual and not a known nickname on Maui)  THANK YOU NICOLE FOR THE ADDITIONAL DATA




Aloha good people!
So here is a perfect BLOG moment.... I received an email from nice guy named John who was diving on the North Shore of Maui and came across a "curious" seal with an I26 tag... seems as though she visited with them for about 30 minutes and following them... acting as John described curious but not aggressive.


NOW FOR the coolest part... I26 was sighted on Maui and posted here on the blog back on July 2009.... A friend of a volunteer (Karen R.) sent her the information....  Looks like John checked it out and also knew she was referred to as Molly.  


THANK YOU John -  I love these blog moments... makes it all worth it.
da blog lady

2/28/2010 DB Dailies

Sandy Beach posse person, Mike, called at 0550 to report that Right Spot was still at Sandy Beach. When I arrived at 0600 I found her right where I'd left her last night. I restrung the rope and continued on. We rechecked her throughout the day, and I will be returning there shortly.

Rabbit Island observation conditions were horrible today, but I was there at Makai Pier giving it a shot. I found RIP at 2BS at 0720, and became of little Mikala up near some Morning Glory to the left of 1BS at 0944. She had no doubt been there all along and I'd simply missed her until then. At 0948 Duke hauled out at the right end of the beach and immediately moved up into the grass, where he snoozed away the day.

Team Billand called at 0802 to report Kermit at White Plains. The next call came at 0947 to report Benny at Nimitz Beach. Benny would take off at around 1000, and head in an easterly direction. While Barbara was pursuing him she happened on to Rocky snoozin' on the reef at Wind Sock, Kalaeloa Beach. White Plains lifeguard , Bryan, called at 1030 to report an animal just hauling out to WP. Team Billand confirmed that it was none other than our boy Benny. On a later check of Rocky they found she had moved up onto the beach and was visible from the road, which natural brought more interest.

I happened onto some shots of Lona (R017) on the FLICKR site, taken Lahaina, Maui on 2-27-10. She is sporting her new F2 bleach, and lookin' darned chunky.

Right Spot departed Sandy Beach of her own volition at 1850. I picked up the stuff and called it a day at 1900.

Duke

RIP and Mikala

Benny and Kermit

Kermit and Bethany

Rocky

Lona on Maui

I26 Seal Seen by Divers on Maui

Aloha Good People!

Karen Rohter's good friend sent her these pictures and video from a diving trip she made to Maui. Seal's tag was identified as I26 (Karen's friend refers to it as Molly, but I think this more of a Morry). This siting and information was sent to NOAA. THANK YOU Karen and Karen's friend. ~donna~