I heard so many stories about ATV run the beaches on the Hawaiian Islands

Most newborn pups of 2020 are weaned by their mama and pups are doing great on their own.

Nohea, PO2 (N2) — Kaiwi, RK96/97 3rd pup

Ikaika, PO4 — RL42’s 2nd pup Photo by Joyce 06062020

And even more, Oahu had 5th pup, PO5 was born the earlier this month on Manana (Rabbit) Island. Mama is nursing PO5 right now.

HMAR volunteers and supporters are keeping eyes on these two pups, PO2 and PO4 on the Oahu’s coastlines all day long.

Recently I was hearing so many stories about ATV cars run on the beaches where the pup is learning its life by themselves. Not only Oahu, but the Island of Hawaii is also telling the stories about the same problems.

This beach is one of Hawaiian Monk Seal habitats on Oahu. Photo by Kimo Smith

Any beaches on the Hawaiian Islands, you are not allowed to run cars on the beach and coastlines. It is illegal!

Pups are sleeping on the beaches even they don’t know some dangerous things are happening right next to them. If you harm any Hawaiian Monk Seals you will be fined because it is illegal to harm or scared them.

Hawaiian ancestors taught us that we have to good take care of the land and the ocean. Malama `Aina and Malama Kai.

If we are good take care of our land and ocean, the land and ocean take care of us, food to eat, water to drink, and safe place to live. But if we spent up quickly the resources we will not have a future or next generation will not have beautiful land and ocean.

Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Aina i ka Pono

This is the motto of the state of Hawaii. It is most commonly translated as The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

Please respect all creatures in the world! We, human is just caretakers who meant to take care of all wildlife and beautiful natures.

Mahalo for visiting my blog!

If you are interested to learn about Hawaiian Monk Seal please let me know. I would love you to have one of our tours including a Virtual online class.

Already it is the time, mama seal weaned her pup

So far, O`ahu has 4 newborn pups since the middle of February this year and already 2 of 4 pups have weaned.

Kaiwi, RK96 was on April 5th, one day before Nahoa’s birth.

I was closely watching Kaiwi, RK96/97 (8 years old), and her pup, Nohea, PO2 (female, was born on April 6, 2020.) I often run into Kaiwi at several beaches and observing her for over 3 years. She is a great mother raised Kawena, RH36/37 (born on June 15, 2016) and Wawamalu, RK24/25 (born on April 23, 2018.)

Nohea, PO2 was born on April 6, 2020 to Kaiwi, RK96/97

As I talked about a newborn pup on the last blog, mother seals nurse her pup for 5 to 6 weeks. Having cared for her pup for a long period without eating, the exhausted mother is ready to wean her pup. She has lost about half of her pre-birth weight, and if she does not eat soon she will die. Kaiwi weaned Nohea, her pup on 42 days after the birth.

Nohea was 14 days old

Nohea was 18 days old

Nohea was 31 days old

Nohea was 35 days old

Nohea was 39 days old and mama, Kaiwi, RK96

Nohea 41 days old, one day before mama weaned her

Kaiwi and Nohea’s last swimming together

Kaiwi’s job complete, she quietly slips away, heading for open water to tend to her own nutritional needs. From this day on she will have nothing more to do with the pup who must now learn to fend for itself.

Kaiwi, you did a great job done! Rest and eat a lot of food.

Weaned Seal Pup Needs Community Help to Grow up Safe and Wild (NOAA)

Please attention!

A recently weaned female Hawaiian monk seal pup has been resting along the shoreline and swimming in the waters along O`ahu’s Kaiwi Coastline. She has appeared near some busy beach areas and hauled out in ares with a lot of vehicle activity on the beach. With the upcoming Memorial Day holiday — and the recent lifting of beach restrictions — we expect there will be many people and vehicles on the beach this weekend.

NOAA Fisheries gave the seal a temporary ID of PO2. She is also known as Nohea (lovely), a name gifted to her by 4th graders at a Hawaiian immersion school in Hau`ula. Her mother is RK96 (Kaiwi), who was also born in this area in 2011. Nohea is Kaiwi’s third pup, and she is also the third to be born on the Kaiwi Coast.

How can you help?

Recently weaned pups are highly impressionable and this is a critical stage in their lives. Their mothers are no longer with them and the pups must learn to find food for themselves. These newly weaned pups may seek social interaction with humans.

1. Give all seals space and avoid interacting or playing with them in the water and on the beach

2. Don’t drive on the beach, as the seal has been resting in areas frequently traversed by vehicles.

3. Keep dogs leashed when at the beach

Hawaiian Monk Seal molts annualy

Once a year monk seal molt or shed its coat on the beach. The molting process takes about nine or ten days, but the seal stays on the beach before and after the process as well. So for more than a month, it stays on the beach most of the time. It will be tired/lazy and don’t eat enough. Please leave it along quietly! It is fine, just need to process the molting annually.

Kaimana, RJ58/59 — she gets algae on the fur so getting very green color before molt

The seal’s fur looks dull brown or gray prior to molting. If algae have grown on it, it may appear green or orange because the seal spend a long time at sea foraging can grow algae on its fur. (see the above photo) The seal spends its 2/3 of a lifetime in the water.

A seal’s annual molt is very different from the first molt it experienced as a pup. At that time, its coat gradually turned from black to gray as individual hairs fell off and were replaced.

Keolakai, RK80/81 — 8 days old with black fur

Keolakai, RK80/81 before weaned by Honey Girl, R5AY — Her fur changed to gray. Photo by Kimo Smith

From the time it is a year old a seal molts its entire pelage: starting on its belly area, head, and flippers, the old coat peels back and falls away in patches. The last part of the body to molt is usually the middle of its back. This molting called “catastrophic molt” (similar to elephant seals)

Kaiwi, RK96/97 — molting process

Kaiwi, RK96/97 — molting process

Kaiwi, RK96/97 — with a brand new fur after the molt

Females who have recently given birth are usually molting 2 to 3 months after weaned her pup. Other seals are molting 2 to 3 months after their birthday typically.

Please give seals space to rest, molt, give birth, and care for their pups.

When observing resting monk seal, give it at least 50 feet away for regular time and 150 feet away for a mom & pup pair or behind the monk seal signs. Please do not enter or pass the Seal Resting Area.

Most of the Hawaiian beaches are not allowed to bring dogs without leashed on them. Please keep your dog on a leash always.

Please join one of our tours to learn more about Hawaiian Monk Seal. Look forward to meeting you soon.

Mahalo for visiting!

Newborn pups in 2020 -- are they boy or girl?

So far, O`ahu has 4 newborn pups reported in 2020.

PO1: a boy was born on February 21, 2020, on Manana Island to Pua, RF34/35 (6 years old.) PO1 is also the first pup of 2020 on the Main Hawaiian Islands. Possibly Pua’s 1st pup but she was disappeared at 5 months old then after 6 years, she came back to her home and gave birth to PO1. PO1’s grandmother is Sadie, RB12/13 (13 years old.) Pua weaned PO1 during the week of April 12th.

Photo by NOAA, Pua, RF34 and PO1

PO2: a girl was born on April 6, 2020 to unidentified mother. Stay tuned to figure out who is mother!

Photo by HMAR (Hawaii Marine Animal Response)

PO3: was born around April 16, 2020, on Manana Island to unidentified mother. The pup’s gender is not announced. Mom & pup’s photo will be coming when NOAA identified the mother. Stay tuned!

PO4: a boy was born on April 23, 2020, on O`ahu to RL42/43 (8 years old.) PO4 is her 2rd pup and 1st pup is Hinakokea, RK40/41 (born in 2018.) The pup’s gender is too early to check. Mom & pup’s photo will be coming when the State Park is reopened. RL42 is Luana, RN58/59’s big sister.

This is much happier news after I heard some sad heartbroken news.

by HMAR (Hawaii Marine Animal Response)

I am praying for all newborn pups of 2020 including on other sister islands that all pups grow strong & healthy and having a happy long life!!

How do we know the seal is male or female?

by NOAA

Only the way we can see the seal’s gender is on its belly. (see the above photo)

Female has four nipples/teats surrounded the belly button. It looks like a square on her belly.

Male does not have nipples but he has a penile opening under his belly button.

Are females or males larger?

Females and males are similarly sized.

Most adult seals are in the 350 to 500 pounds range depending on sex, age, and reproductive status. The average length for a mature seal is 6 to 7 feet.

Newborn pup measurement is about 35 pounds weight and 3 feet length and the weaner pup is about 200 pounds weight and 4 feet length.

by NOAA

How close you can get to a seal?

Please stay behind any signs or ropes that have been established by HMAR or other authorized personnel. If no signs or ropes are in place and no HMAR or other authorized personnel are on scene, a good guideline is to remain 50 feet from the seal.

If there are a seal mom and pup on the beach, a good guideline is to remain 150 feet from the pair. The mother seal always protects her pup and more aggressive to the predators.

Hawaiian Monk Seal is one of the most endangered marine animal species so a disturbance of a seal may constitute a violation of Hawaii state and/or federal laws.

Always keep your pets on a leash in the vicinity of a Hawaiian Monk Seal to prevent disease transmission between the animals.

If you see the seal(s) please report to the hotline as well as any injured, entangled, or protected marine species in distress to (888) 256-9840!

Please join one of our tours to learn more about Hawaiian Monk Seal!

Mahalo for visiting.

Hawaiian Monk Seal's main causes of death

Last week Thursday, April 23rd, Honey Girl, R5AY/R5AZ “Supermom” of the Hawaiian Monk Seal was found dead on a windward Oahu beach. Her cause of death was not apparent. Due to COVID-19 restrictions she was buried at Kualoa Ranch.

Honey Girl, R5AY and her 11th pup, Keolakai, RK80 on April 22, 2018

In April 2020, we lost two mothers of Hawaiian Monk Seal, Pohaku, Ro28/29 (was born May 3, 2006), and Honey Girl, R5AY/R5AZ (unknow birth date, possibly 23+ years old.) As Endangered Marine animal species, losing females mean many generation’s offspring lost and it is hard to recover its population growth.

Rest in Love and Peace, Pohaku, RO28, and Honey Girl, R5AY. You are greatly missed and we remember you forever!

What is Hawaiian Monk Seal’s main causes of death?

In the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI)

• Starvation/malnutrition

• Entanglement in marine debris

• Shark predation

• Habitat loss due to climate change

• Aggressive male seals attacking other seals

In the Main Hawaiian Islands

• Fishery interaction (hookings and entanglements)

• Human disturbance and development

• Toxoplasmosis

• Disease caused by morbillivirus is also an important threat however a vaccination program is helping protect the species

Fishing interaction NOAA called “a fishing interaction” when Hawaiian Monk Seal gets hooked or entangled in active fishing gear. NOAA scientists found that at least 28% of monk seals in the Main Hawaiian Islands have had a least one run-in with nearshore fishing gear.

For centuries, human impact has been a major factor in the decline of all monk seal populations.

Ghost Nets, fishnets trap and kill a number of the seal by drowning each year. In 2019, at least two young seals, Kuokala, RK88/89 ( a yearly male), and Makoa, RL36/37 (5 months old male) were killed by drowning by gillnet.

Nets that drift ashore are a hazard because seals like to snuggle up to them. A curious seal will often inspect a net that has washed ashore by shoving its nose into the mass. If it gets caught in the net, it will likely strangle itself or die from heatstroke or starvation. Nets in the water also pose a threat because seals that try to eat fish caught in the nets may become snared themselves and drown.

by NOAA Fisheries, Marine Debris Team in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands

Fishing lines Occasionally a seal will get caught on a fishing line while trying to eat the bait. Longline fishing is especially deadly, as fishing vessels set adrift miles of baited fishing lines that indiscriminately kill monk seals and other marine animals along with the intended catch of fish.

Fishing hook Fishing hooks give potential injury to monk seals such as hooking or entanglement, give monk seals trauma, and sometimes it caused monk seals life threatened if the seal injected a hook to its stomach.

by DLNR

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a single-celled protozoan organism, Toxoplasma Gondii. Cats are the definitive host of Toxoplasma and are required for the organism to complete its life cycle. Toxoplasma eggs or oocysts are shed in cat feces and can survive in the environment for a prolonged period of time. Hawaiian Monk Seal ingests the oocysts and the organism becomes encysted in the seal’s tissues. Toxoplasmosis is found worldwide and can cause infection in many animals, birds, and humans.

Since the past, a total of 12 seals died by Toxoplasmosis up to this month.

Please help us to prevent Fishing interactions, infect disease, and Human interactions with Hawaiian Monk Seal and recover its population growth!

References:

NOAA Fisheries, DLNR, and book “Hawaiian Monk Seal” by Patrick Ching

Please join one of our tours to learn more about Hawaiian Monk Seal! We offer a Virtual Online Class as well.

Mahalo for visiting my blog.

Honey Girl, Hawaiian Monk Seal

There are many great and sweet Hawaiian Monk Seal mothers which I heard about their stories even I never meet them in person. I met several mother seals in person for past in three years of study about Hawaiian Monk Seal.

Today, I am talking about Honey Girl, R5AY/R5AZ who is a locals favorite and has a nickname “Super Mom” given by the locals.

Honey Girl, R5AY and her 11th pup, Keolakai, RK80/81 (a few days old) on April 15, 2018

Honey Girl showed up on Oahu when she was a young adult and started the production of her offsprings. So, NOAA does not have a record of her birthplace and birthday. It is already over 20 years passed since she showed up on Oahu the first time. She is the oldest female Hawaiian Monk Seal on Oahu. Currently, Oahu has about 40 to 45 seals live around Oahu shorelines.

Honey Girl is a mother of 12 pups so far but most of her pups died very young age. Only left two pups, Momona, RA20/21 was born in 2009. Momona is her 4th pup who lives on Hawaii Island. (She is a mother of three, Manuiwa, RK26/27 was born in 2018, Kaulana, RL50/51 was born in 2019 and one more a pup born in 2017) And Keolakai, RK80/81 was born around April 15, 2018. Keolakai is her 11th pup who lives on Oahu.

In 2019, Honey Girl had 12th pup, Makoa, RL36/37 was born on May 12, a Mother’s Day. He was enjoying his life and he liked relaxing some spots on the isolated beaches. He died suddenly caused by non-illness on November 9, 2019, at only five months and 28 days.

Makoa, RL36/37 on September 27, 2019

After Honey Girl weaned her 7th pup, Kaikaina, RL54/55/L57 who was born on August 25, 2012, she ran into trouble. It was a warm November day she was found by kitesurfers that she was floating in the ocean and covered in green algae.

She was terribly thin and an Ulua fishhook was caught in her cheek. Her tongue was cut by a fishing line and had gotten infected. She hadn’t been able to catch or swallow food for several weeks.

When NOAA received a report about her, Marine mammal experts went to search and found her. She was moved to Waikiki Aquarium and received round-the-clock care for two days. But her injured tongue needed extra care then she was moved to the Honolulu Zoo.

At the Honolulu Zoo, veterinarians performed the first known operation on the tongue of a Hawaiian Monk Seal. They were pleased that half of her tongue was saved.

At first, she couldn’t swallow her usual food of fish, squid, octopus, eels, crabs, shrimps. So she was fed a “seal shake” of ground-up herring and water through a tube.

But on her own, Honey Girl wouldn’t eat small frozen herring tossed into her pool. The scientists were worried she wouldn’t be able to eat fish. If she couldn’t eat fish, she couldn’t return to the ocean.

On Thanksgiving Day, Honey Girl caught and ate live tilapia. She was perking up! Thirteen days after her rescue, the scientists decided she could go home.

Over the next month, Honey Girl traveled far from shore and back again. She was hunting for food. Many times, she was seen resting on the beaches. And fortunately, she didn’t suffer any more run-ins with fishing gear. She was getting heavier and her tongue was healing without an infection.

Honey Girl, R5AY and her 8th pup, Meli, RF20/21 in January 2014. Photo by Kimo Smith

In 2014, Honey Girl gave birth to Meli, RF20/21 on January 10, 2014, who was the first Hawaiian Monk Seal pup, PO1 of the New Year 2014.

The very next year, Honey Girl became a grandmother for the first known time. Her daughter Ua Malie, RT10/11 her 5th pup had a pup named Holokai, RG40/41 on June 27, 2015. Ua Malie died by toxoplasmosis on May 17, 2018, at 9 years and 18 days old.

Ua Malie, RT10/11 and her two boys, Holokai, RG40/41 (born in 2015) and Kahuluokalae, RJ16/17 (born in 2017)

Mahalo Honey Girl for helping Hawaiian Monk Seal who is endangered species by giving birth to healthy pups and raising pups. Please stay good health and live long!

Reference: Honey Girl, the Hawaiian Monk Seal by Jeanne Walker Harvey

You would like to meet Honey Girl? Please join our Learn Hawaiian Monk Seal tour to meet her and learn more details about Hawaiian Monk Seal.

Mahalo for visiting and A hui hou (see you soon)!

Hawaiian Monk Seal ID tags

Hawaiian Monk Seal appeared on the Hawaiian Islands millions of years ago, it is the oldest and most primitive of all living pinnipeds (the order of fin-footed mammals that includes seals, walruses, and sea lions.)

Hawaiian Monk Seal is protected by the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, (the US Government office) is monitoring Hawaiian Monk Seal and working to enhance the recovery of Hawaiian Monk Seal over 50 years.

The current population estimate is about 1,400 seals, about 1,100 seals live in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and about 300 seals live in the main Hawaiian Islands (Niihau/Lehua, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii Island.)

by NOAA

Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973, recognizing that the natural heritage of the United States was of “esthetic, ecological, educational, recreational, and scientific value to our nation and its people.” It was understood that, without protection, many of our nation’s native plants and animals would become extinct. Hawaiian Monk Seal is one of the most Endangered Species in the world.

Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.

     – President Nixon, upon signing the Endangered Species Act

Holokai, RG40/41, 4 years old male

In 1966 the US Fish & Wildlife Service began applying tags to the rear flippers of monk seals. The service continued to tag seals intermittently until the early 1970s.

NOAA began a tagging program in 1981, and since 1984 most of the newly weaned seals born in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have been fitted with plastic tags on their rear flippers.

The tags are coded with letters and numbers, enabling researchers to identify individual seals so that they may better understand the monk seals’ habits and needs and assess rehabilitation progress.

Most tags placed on seals are color coded; each island or atoll is represented by a different color. This enables researchers to determine which island a seal is originally from, thus making it easier to trace interisland movement patterns.

Kaimana, RJ58/59, 2 years old female has a ID tag (J58)

Find a seal on the beach? Please call in the NOAA Hotline to report the seal sighting at (888) 256-9840. All your report of Hawaiian Monk Seal sighting will help to support its recovery.

Reference: Hawaiian Monk Seal by Patrick Ching

Please join one of our Learn Hawaiian Monk Seal tours to learn about Hawaiian Monk Seal. Look forward to meeting you in person near future! Mahalo,

What is SRA (Seal Resting Area) on the beach?

Seal Resting Area (SRA) are small areas of shoreline around hauled-out monk seals who is resting on the beach and/or a pair of mom and pup who is nursing and sleeping on the beach. SRAs are temporarily delineated with signs, rope, and/or fencing. NOAA suggests the distance between a seal & the observers about 50 feet away and a pair of mom and pup & the observers about 150 feet away.

SRAs help make the public aware of the presence of a seal on the beach and decrease the chances of a dangerous or un-intentional disturbance. They are used to create awareness and enhance public safety. Usually, Hawaii Marine Animal Responses volunteers also work on the site to meet with people and educate the public about this treasured animal.

SRA sign and fence around Kaiwi, RK96 and her 2nd pup, Wawamalu, RK24 — Mom & pup nursing area in May 2018

Kaiwi, RK96 with SRA sign — “Shhh… I am sleeping”

Honey Girl, R5AY and her 12th pup, Makoa, RL36 — Mom & pup nursing SRA in May 2019