March 7, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Melody and a sad news announcement from the NOAA team.

Sorry to start the daily off with sad news, but news was out today that RI37 (Ipo or Bessie) was found dead on February 5th.  Here is the official link to NOAA's website:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/endangered-species-conservation/hawaiian-monk-seal-updates?fbclid=IwAR3yFRNwsZlLq9hssLtBIbL2-MQ7tw6QeXZCLQeyXmsKb93I4jITEp5Gozs

I would like to let ALL the volunteers old and new that watched over her, how sad we all are. She had a hard time of it having never given birth successfully, but she was always a joy to observe.   I still not quite sure why it has taken a month for this news to break,  it is what it is......  
I am reposting a couple of photos of RI37 who was last reported to the blog on January 5th, photos courtesy of Marilyn.


Back to our daily sightings:  Team Billand arrived to a popular westside site at 8:12 am and the first critter up was RN14 Kalani, who came in and landed on lower rocks.  The second seal up was Kekoa RK72 who came up and joined RN14, and they both ended up on high rock.
The third critter up was RIP RR70 who stayed in the shallows most of the time and then decided to haul out to lower rocks to snooze.
Then there was the young female who seems to love hanging out with the boyz. Kawena RH36. First she was seen swimming around in the cove, then she went around and came in to mid rocks where she remained for the day.


By the afternoon they had checked out other locations but found no one. At 2:18 their last visit back to the westside location and check on RN14, Kekoa, RIP and Kawena they spotted a seal coming in fast from the Waianae side. The seal quickly hauled up on high rocks with Kekoa and Kalani. It was Ka'ale RH32 who passed Kekoa to get to his bosom buddy Kalani RN14. They were very sweet greeting each other nose to nose. 

Melody was visited by none other than Rocky RH58. Melody alerted security who eventually brought some signs and they set up a zone. Rocky was called into the hotline.  All and all there weren't a lot of people out today since the beach was cold and breezy. Rocky didn't seem to mind and went to sleep in the sand.  

RI37 IPO on 1/5/2019

 RN14 Kalani

 Kekoa RK72

 RN14 and Kekoa

RIP RR70

 Kawena

Kaale greets Kekoa and Kalani

Rocky