MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: July 12, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Friday, July 12, 2019

July 12, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, posse pal Vicki, and Team T&D, only today was Team T&D was Tammy and Donna. :-)

Vicki sent photos of PO3 from yesterday. She had gone for a visit and thought she was going to get skunked but then the little bugger hauled out to his birth beach.
Vicki also sent photos of Kaiwi RK96 from this morning. She is looking quite beautiful with her new shiny coat.

Team Billand was out before 7 am and got to a west side location. Upon arrival they see RG28 up on high rocks to the left alone. As they are observing him they see a 2nd seal coming in.
He was slow to come in, laying on his side, on his belly then on his back in the shallows. They were able to ID RIP RR70. All and all it took him 20 minutes to haul up on lower rock.
Now a third seal appears, coming in between the rocks to haul in, away from RIP. Here come Kekoa Alii RK72 and he stayed right there to sleep.
Three dudes all together resting quietly. Team Billand moved on to check other beaches and to see if Pohaku was around.

On Team Billand next check on the boys, they only see one seal all the way to the right side. They're pretty sure it's RIP resting as the waves were covering him now and then.
Suddenly a second seal appears, bobbing his head looking and looking. This appears to be Kekoa and RIP isn't too happy to see him.
Kekoa got a very vocal and some hind flipper tosses, then he took off.
As for RIP he was not happy and he also left the area.

They were going to do the Ka'ena West trek when they got a call of a haul out. When they arrived there was Pohaku at Lagoon 4. There was a zone set up and there was the very large Pohaku RO28. She wasn't too happy with all the people being noisy, both kids and adults, with one kid running in the zone. Pohaku was very restless, moving about, on her side looking at everyone. She flips and goes to the water edge, and then back up.
Team Billand called the hotline and stayed to educate people let them know she was pregnant and to give her some space.
Volunteer arrived, Team Billand stuck around to see Pohaku settle down and rest. They left at 3:20 and called it a day.

I had the pleasure of meeting up with my friend Tammy today. Our plan was to check out PO3 and then have lunch. Tammy found out through Tracy that today was the weaner's big day to get tagged. Tammy arrived on site before me to check his location, she did find him but became immediately concerned as he had fishing line wrapped around him in one of the coves. She called Tracy to inform her and was told, they were on their way and bringing all the necessary equipment.
I had just arrived on site and poor Tammy was panicked, but at this time I was having a hard time seeing any line at all. We watched him for close to an hour and it appears the bugger tossed whatever line he had around him. ( which makes me think this area could use an underwater clean up).

PO3 moved from the little cove closer to his birth beach, but hauling out on the rocks just outside the zone. We were happy he hauled out but both knew this was not the best location for the NOAA Team.
The team arrived and assessed the situation, but as luck would have it, the tide was rising and the wave coming in over the rocks forced the kid to move. He took his time swimming about, but finally hauled out just inside the SRA. The NOAA team of 4 women went to work. This weaner put up a fight and gave them a run for their money. I credit Thea for having the strength to keep this kid down as much as he tried to toss, lunge and bite at them.

Some folks may get upset by something like this, but honestly this is the best of the situation where the young seal wants nothing to do with people and will defend himself if someone messes with him.
He was tagged with RL36/37, and as soon as the Team dispersed he was happy to show off his new bling.
Thank you NOAA for the great job, and Thank you Tammy for hanging out with me today, and taking some cool pictures. Also sorry the kid gave you a mini heart attack this morning.

PO3 on Thursday