A note to Volunteers

Dear Volunteers,

Our seal Ohana sufffered the loss of R018 yesterday at White Plains/Kalealoa Campgrounds.  We are saddened by this loss, as with any loss of one of our animals that we look after and care for.

The support we received, with the hotline calls and beachgoers was helpful in locating R018 quickly.  Barbara & Robert Billand were on the scene, and other beach goers were helpful in the retrieval of R018 from the water.  Barbara & Robert have known this seal for many years and handled the retrieval with great respect and love.

It is one of the worst situations a volunteer ever has to face and loss of life for one of these critters always hits us hard.  Beverly Rexrode was on the scene and stayed in touch with the hotline and coordinator as best she could with the bad phone service in that area.  The sad event was handled well and a quick response was achieved.

NOAA arrived with their team and the seal was taken for necropsy.  Those results will take some time to evaluate.  We all just have to be patient to hear what the cause of death may have been.

R018's origin and age are somewhat unknown.  We do know that he spent time on Kauai where he was identified as a sub-adult in 2005.  He frequented Oahu, Kauai and Niihau and was seen frolicking as recently as April with M&M and her buoy at White Plains.  He was an important participant with critter cam and satellite work during 2011 and supplied useful information for the scientists to disseminate with his many travels around the islands.

R018 will be missed by us all.  We all suffer this loss and hope that some of the new pups, on their way, will carry on his legacy.

Mahalo nui loa to all the volunteers that care and give so much.

Dana Jones, Heide Weber

Monk Seal Foundation

p.s. I apologize if my previous post caused any confusion my intend was to say R.I.P. RO18 - I know some people wondered if it was Rip (RR70)... I will be more careful next time - da blog lady

RIP R018 May 15, 2014

We lost another beloved seal today R018

Thank you Barb for sharing this photo of him during a healthier time

5-15-2014 DB's Dailies: Pua,M38&U/F@RI, Kea @ BH, Kaiwi@CW, Kekoa@RR, R018@KCG

At 0640 I found Kea (RN46) snoozin’ in the cove on the Sandy Beach side of the Blowhole Lookout. He was still there at 1800. 

 At 0800 I found Pua (RF34) amongst the rocks at the left end of Rabbit Island. NOAA personnel went to RI today and tagged her at 1600. They confirmed the female sex. She is now RF34/35.  DB you usually have a story behind the name... why Pua?  Just curious.

 At 0930 I found M38 cruising the beach front. He would take off around mid day. 

 At 1025 Gayle called with the report of Kaiwi (RK96) at China Walls. I checked her at 1100. 

 At 1332 I found an U/F hauling out to Rocky Right Beach, RI. NOAA personnel were on island and confirmed that this was a subadult female with no tags, Sadly, they also noted a substantial shark bite wound to the right side of her face. Personnel will go out in the morning to capture her for further medical evaluation.  Hopefully we'll get some updates :-(  

 Colleen called at 0820 with the report of Rocky (RH58) at Kaimana Beach. She would depart at 1000.

 At 1040 the Billands found Kekoa (RK72) at the Reef Runway. 

 At 1330 Colleen reported Buster (RV08) at Diamond Head. 

 It is with much sadness that I have to report that Team Billand found a dead, R018, in the near shore waters of Kalaeloa Campgrounds. NOAA personnel responded and brought him back for necropsy.  This is so sad....

 NOAA team on island giving weaner Pua her bling RF34/35 

 u/f  with a shark bite wound

 Kawi at china wall

 

 Kea at blow hole

 little green machine... geesh!

Kea at blow hole

Kekoa at reef runway

5-14-2014 West Side Update

Aloha Good People

The following photos are of MM and R018 sent in from Team Billand and Diane T.  Thank you to both for sending in the shots so we can enjoy.... Really loving miss MM hanging out by the buoy.

 enough water time

 okay seal camouflage  cover myself in sand and they won't see me

 all relaxed

 MM and our beloved Barb !!!

 R018

Barb noted teeth marks on R018s butt 

 and maybe a little swollen

 both Barb and Diane noted he spent a lot of time just floating in the water...

5-4-2014 Team Billand late night

I apologize some of the photos didn't download properly and after several attempts I decided to go with the what I had. Not sure what gremlins decided to mess with "some" of the photos and not the others.

Buster at White Plains

Pohaku and Buster

 Buster and MM - not quite sure what this posturing is about... but who knows what these silly seals are thinking

crazy out at white plains... volunteers Terri and TJ were out to help as well as Cindy late in the day

 and MM enjoying some play time with her buoy 

 Nihoa at Maipalaoa

 a rainbow around the sun.

 RO18 at white plains

5-2-2014 DB's Dailies: Sadie&Pup,U/F@RI, Aukai@LL, Kaiwi@CW, Rocky@MI, M&M,R018@WP

At 0833 on my 2^nd look at Rabbit Island, I found Sadie & Pup (RB12)(D#29) doing a feed. After a long snooze they did another swim session, hauling out again to 2BS, followed by yet another snooze.

　

On a pan at 0835 I became aware of an U/F out on the left end rock flats, as has been the case of late. Still no ID possible.

　

At 1300 I found Aukai (RL12) at the Lanai Lookout Cove. She appears to have a new wound on her LHF.

　

At 1336 I found Kaiwi (RK96) at her usual hangout at China Walls.

　

Team Billand checked in at 0700 with the report of R018 fronting #1707 , White Plains.

　

At 0750 they reported M&M playing with the WP buoys. She would haul out fronting Tower#2.

　

Diane Tekai called at 0908 with the report of Kolohe (RW22) & Haupu (RB24).

　

Melanie Chun called at 1310 with the report of Rocky (RH58) at Magic Island. Dalin also stopped by and sent shots.

 Sadie and pup

 Oh this little one is getting bigger

 unidentified female... keeping DB on his toes

 Little Aukai

 OUCH!!! but we all know they heal so quickly probably won't even be able to see it in a couple of days.

 Aukai... very faint N12

 Kaiwi's tail end

 Awww there she is

 Haupu's tail end... hmmmm we have a theme going on

 Kolohe and Haupu

 These two like hanging out with each other

 Rocky at Magic Island 

 Oh Momma

 ROCKY !! you best be heading off to Kauai...

Oh I have to believe this dude was shocked to see MM coming towards him... looks like one of those situations.. where he just happened to be in the right place... oops I mean wrong place at the right time.

 okay she is obsessed with this buoy

 haaaaaa surfers getting a surprise 

 MM and R018 at white plains