MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: October 24, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Thursday, October 24, 2019

October 24, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Melody and Lesley along with Team T&D. Lesley's Ka'ena update is part 2 of the dailies.

In yesterday's news department Melody brought word of multiple seal sightings. Her first sighting was Pohaku RO28 at plains. Next Melody headed off to other popular west side locations. It took some looking but she spotted a seal draped over the rocks almost looking like a beach towel. Although Melody thought it might be Kawena she was able to get confirmation with the help of Barbara and volunteer Melina.

To the right of Kawena was another seal and once again with the help of Barbara and Melina they confirmed RG28 Lefty.
Feeling as though it was a good seal day, Melody was ready to head out when she caught a glimpse of another seal slithering in and was a BIG boy. And as cool as that was there was another seal in the water flipping around. The "big boy" decided to head back into the water.
Melody heard some "growling and ruckus" nearby, looking around to the tide pools. There was RN14 Kalani (big boy) with RG28 in the tide pool. Apparently RN14 was responsible for the ruckus, and RG28 was not engaging in Kalani's antics.

Once Melody headed home she got a call there was a seal on the beach, and what better way to end her day than with her favorite Rocky RH58.

In Today's NEWS Melody went out early morning to check and Rocky was still on the beach. Melody hung out with her for the day and was joined by Dana and new HMSPO volunteer.

Team Billand was out early today, first to stop by plains. There was Pohaku RO28, high up on the beach. There was a zone set up by the surfers ( thanks guys). Pohaku was pretty still, seemed to be resting quietly. Team Billand couldn't stay long so they left for some appointments.

Later in the day they went looking and found Kawena RH36 sleeping on lower rocks gently getting hit by some waves. Her tags were showing, scar on right side corner of her mouth was visible.

To Kawena's right out on the reef there was a fat male snoozing out on the edge. Team Billand was able to ID RK72 Kekoa, but the stub tag, bumps on his left side and scar on the right side of his face.
Team Billand's next find at a different location was RN14 Kalani. He was on the rocks snoozing alone, tags showing. He is looking very green and quite large.
Shortly after they spotted a slither of a seal in between the rocks. They waited and watched intently and luckily the little seal moved up on the rocks. They could see the N17 bleach on the right side and now have confirmation it's Kalua RL20.

On another note, I attended the Hanauma Bay Talks this evening and Cianna gave a presentation on "The case of the monk seal fish snatcher RH32" . It for sure made lots of us laugh as we know what Ka'ale is capable of and it was interesting to hear the fishermen call him the bus driver, since he drives all the fish in.
What I walked away with, most importantly is the power of building community relationships. This is a perfect situation that shows community involvement will benefit the monk seals and their survival. These relationships, take time, patience and a genuine caring for both the seals and the community. I know many of our monk seal posse has spent years out there developing good solid relationships in many communities. THANK YOU!

FYI: The Hanauma Bay Talks are not available on youtube. Seems they had a change in personnel and along with that came some technical difficulties. Which means tonights talk as well as last weeks talk with Dr. Michelle Barbieri on Hawaiian Monk Seal Survival in the Main Hawaiian Islands.

Kalani RN14