09/30/2021 Thursday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Lesley, Team T&D, Melody and Team R&B💕.  Lesley's Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies.

Team T&D still on the Big Island made the long drive to Volcanoes National Park. They didn't see any lava as it was too low in the crater. They were able to see all the gases coming up, Madam Pele awakening. 

On their way back they found R405 another large female hauled out.

R405 makes number nine of the nine seals that reside on the Big Island. They were told by a friend the fact they have seen nine seals during their time on the island meant the seal gods were looking down on them. Tammy corrected them and told them it was DB, many thanks to her friend and mentor 💓

Melody received a call last evening that Rocky had come up on shore at a west side location. It was late so she called one of the community volunteers to go check, and Melody called the hotline. 

Melody got up early this morning and found Rocky galumphing down towards the water. She is looking healthy and doing well. She has started her molt, but Rocky is taking things in stride moving on the sand and into the water very easily.  Melody send photos in to confirm her ID and that she was molting. I know Melody must have been thrilled to see her favorite, since its been a while.

Team R&B headed out and saw two seals in the outfall foraging.

Aukai who is an excellent fisher, she was catching lots of fish on her own. RN14 Kalani was going all over the place catching what he could. They both left the area and headed towards tracks. When they arrived neither seal was there, but they met up with Melody. They saw three seals passing and none of them landed. Kaale had joined Aukai and Kalani. RN14 finally arrived looked around on land then headed back out in Honolulu direction. In the end none of them hauled out and they all left the area.

Next stop Team R&B arrived at the bay and found RL20 foraging near the jetty. They had been getting text from one of the fishers "Da seal here steaking fish Auntie, Da green little seal."  Sure enough it was the little green munchkin. He was everywhere after the school of Akule. 

Moving on they finally located R3CX Nalu on shore and he is looking quite handsome. He is 100% molted, and they were really happy to find him in his new coat.

Lastly Team R&B had been looking for Benny RE74 for the last couple of days. They finally came

across him on the rocks. Unfortunately he has a hook with a long line attached. They reported one line coming over his neck and when he flipped they spotted another line coming from the right side of his mouth. He didn't toss his head or struggle at all, he just rested on the rocks. Benny is very special to Team R&B, so hopefully he will find a nice sandy area to haul out and the professionals can get to him.

R405 fat female on the Big Island

Rocky 

Aukai

RN14

Kaale

Kalani RN14

RL20 Kalua

R3CX Nalu

Benny RE74