MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: June 6, 2023 Tuesday's Dailies

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

June 6, 2023 Tuesday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn, Tammy and Team R&B💕 Tammy's update is from the yesterday news department.

Posse pal Tammy day started out slow yesterday with just one seal. After several hours she ended her day with 8 seals.

First at 10 minute beach, best guess by size and location that this would be RL98 Lina, but many untagged seals showing up in the area she had to report it as an unknown/unidentified.

On her way back she spotted a very bright white belly on the reefs, there was Kami RL74.

Tammy stopped to check in on RL42 and PO6. There was another seal visiting them but she could not get the ID.

Tammy also made a stop to check on Luana RN58 and PO7.

Lastly she was both surprised and lucky to find RS36 Pualalni. Tammy watch her for a bit while she played in the shallows for about an hour. She entertained herself playing with seaweed and a mangrove pod.

Marilyn noted our sadness from the news released by NOAA today regarding the loss of RG76 Malama. She was born on Rabbit Island over a year ago. This news is especially disturbing because so much time and labor had been spent to rehabilitate her after she was weaned in an underweight status. We would all like to thank NOAA, Ke Kai Ola, and volunteers for their efforts in trying to give her a chance at life. Here's the official link:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/endangered-species-conservation/hawaiian-monk-seal-updates?fbclid=IwAR3ClEHqKjQZ05swLMJdPGSPVRJFkHFY1VKVqsK5A34qzquWiVfT6C8FUgI#reward-offered-for-suspected-intentional-killing-of-rq76-(malama)

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:00 to 3:20 and there were no seals visible during the first two and a half hours of her viewing. ( OKAY that dedication and patience). Marilyn doesn't know if the lack of seals was due to the three spearfishermen who had landed with their kayak between the 1BS & 2BS.

Finally Marilyn saw weaner RS34 haul out near SRI at 2:33 pm. She was identified by her weaner size, shape and coloration, her two red tags and silver-dollar size NB on her lower right side. She rested for a while before hauling onto to beach near SRI.

Marilyn then saw the head of a young monk twice in the surge channel adjacent to the rock flats of LPB. At 3:05 pm, Marilyn finally saw weaner RS12 haul out of the channel onto the rock flats. She was weaner size, shape and coloration and had two red tags.

Team R&B were out searching for hours and was coming up empty. Finally they found RH76 Kala at noontime. She was alone hiding up in the rocks. Team R&B spotted two tropical birds fly by several times, birds they had never seen before.

They got the news of Malama RQ76, who was killed back in March. They took this opportunity to sit and let their feelings out. Ironic that they found Kala RH76 who is RQ76's mom. No matter how hard we try, we can't always prevent the tragedy.

Next stop they found a seal in the rocks and they were trying to get an ID. Thankfully the seal showed his tags and it was RM31 Kai. He was alone and seemed content enjoying his rest.

Then Kai suddenly went from relaxed to holy crap there's a visitor.

Here comes big butthead RH32 Kaale. He came up and started bumping Kai. Then he climbed up to him and poor Kai was upset and started barking and whooping at Kaale RH32. Kaale just did his thing, then left leaving Kai alone.

Team R&B went looking for Kaale but no luck. They just not sure which way he went, but they kept looking. They were still working off their sadness over RQ76.

Then they found another seal, adult who looks like they are molting. There was the beautiful large Lei Ola RH48. She moved to cool off and that's when they saw her tags.

RL42 & PO6