May 24, 2024 Friday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

Also there is some very sad news to report, one of our newest pups died today. We don't have the full story, and initial reports are saying it was due to a dog attack. NOAA has opened an official investigation.  Here is the link from Hawaii News Now:

 https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/05/25/hawaiian-monk-seal-pup-dies-following-alleged-dog-attack-noaa-says/

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:24 to 2:47 and there were six seals seen during that time. There were also several kayaks and seven people on island. Marilyn did call the DOCARE office.

On LPB was a juvenile seal she labeled as a Juvenile Male: larger juvenile size, light male belly and no tags. This seal may have some natural bleach marks on its RRF.

Between 3BS and SRI was a Juvenile Female: smaller juvenile size, older coat or just very sandy, tan female belly and two red tags. She went into the water when a couple who had arrived by kayak walked by her.

On the SRI were three seals: 

Closer together were two seals; Adult Female: adult size, darker female belly and two red tags

Nudging her some of the time was an Adult Male 1: adult size, darker male belly and to red tags.

Initially next to SRI, but hauling up on shore closer to the two seals was Adult Male 2: smaller adult size, light male belly and unsure about tags.  This seal had two small but prominent scars lateral and forward of the penial hole.

At 1:52 pm, Marilyn finally saw PO# hauled out far back on the Lanikai side of LPB. He later moved further back next to the cliff and she lost sight of him.

Team R&B's first stop they found two seals. The two males were ID'd as R617 who had just hauled in seal inlet. Next to waterfront rocks was R416.

Next stop was at Nimitz where they found R407 Kawika alone on the

reef. 

As they walked out they saw lots of debris onshore. Walking out a bit further they saw several white 55 gallon drums, wood in the water and pieces of some kind of boat. They notified the lifeguards and sent photos.  Team R&B tried to move some of it and next thing they knew the news crew had arrived.  Lifeguards came with a truck pulled out large pieces dragging it all out to the grass.  Such a mess.

Team R&B got a call of a large seal arriving at white plains. They went out to check it out and were surprised to find RL12 Aukai. Oh

man she is big and she better get herself to Rabbit Island soon.

A volunteer was onsite and had set up a SRA around her.

Last but not least they finally made their way to Kahe where there was a big seal on the rocks. The seal was getting slammed by the waves and finally washed the seal off. Team R&B were able to ID Lefty RG28 before he got washed away.

Rabbit Island

R617

R416

R407

debris

RL12

RG28