MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: January 30, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

January 30, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Melody and another Big Island update from Team T&D.

Tammy and Dave still enjoying their visit to the Big Island had the added pleasure of finding two beauties! They spent their morning exploring and went to check a "normal" haul out seal spot. They found RW34 and a volunteer doing outreach. She is quite a sight to be seen, let's just say she a big girl!
After leaving Team T&D got word of another seal down the coast. Of course they went to check it out and there they found RA20. Lucky them especially since there aren't many seals on the Big Island. Thank you for sharing Tammy and Dave!

Team Billand was out at a west side beach when they spotted a seal just coming onto the rocks, made a turn and up over the rocks. They ID'd RN14 Kalani by his applied bleach.
Then they headed over to another closeby beach and found Kekoa Alii RK72 already up on high rocks, sleeping. They met up with volunteers Melina and Molly. On their recheck Kekoa was still in the same spot still sleeping and hidden.

RIP RR70 was to the right mid rocks sleeping. He was slumped over the rocks as if he had a really rough night. His tags were visible and he was sill there on their afternoon check, same spot, but on his side.

Team Billand made a final stop and much to their surprise they found a little critter sleeping next to a larger female. At first they thought the little one was RK88, but no it was RJ58 Kaimana! She's not one that is seen very often so this was a real treat. She is looking healthy and a pretty sweet face.
The larger female ID'd as RL42 Leia who was also sleeping and looking pretty large. They got her tags, but also noticed there were some bite marks on her head. There were four punctures and to the right a bigger wound. Team Billand notified NOAA about the new marks on her. RL42 seemed find other than her marks, and we all know how amazingly quickly these critters heal.

Well while Kaimana was snoozing on the west side, her momma Rocky RH58 was just about to haul out at Cove 8 by Melody's home. Melody got a call about 5 pm that a seal had hauled out, and upon arriving she was told the seal had been foraging off shore for at least an hour. Rocky was ID'd by her NB on her LFF. Melody called the hotline and then assisted Security setting up a SRA. In a very short time there was a crowd and thankfully most everyone was very respectful. Melody left a couple hours later after enjoying Rocky and a beautiful sunset.

RA20