Monk Seals!!!

Yesterday I began my volunteer program--those who know me, know I can't go to any wild place and not do some sort of conservation!  Here on O'ahu, I am working with the Monk Seal Foundation.  The sad fact of the matter is that Monk Seals are one of the most endangered species in the world, their numbers hovering around 1100 right now. 

Just waking up after a nap.  Mom is large and silver, and the pup, Holokai is dark.

 With dwindling habitat, infectious diseases, entanglements in fishing nets, ingesting fish hooks, and injuries from boats, their numbers are decreasing by 4% a year!  Unfortunately, with so many species in danger on the islands, and so much space to cover, the regulation of endangered species is minimal.  Thankfully, generous volunteers, like those with the Monk Seal Foundation, are trying to do their part to help.  They have a good number of local people who work regular shifts monitoring the seals, and the occasional "voluntourist" like me who help out.  Hopefully other similar non-profits will take hold to protect the other species here.

My work with the foundation actually began the first day I was on the island.  Irene and I drove up to the north shore, to Turtle Bay Resort, where a large section of coastline is monitored for seals.  There, the volunteer coordinator, Dana, gave an orientation presentation to all new volunteers, giving us factual information about the Monk Seals, threats to the population, and an explanation of our volunteer responsibilities.  

Dana orients all of us new volunteers on the Monk Seal Foundation's mission.

After a thorough introduction, Irene and I went about the rest of our trip, but I returned and had my first official day volunteering yesterday.  Most of what we do is try to educate passers-by.  People are usually so excited to see the seals that they go too close, or even try interacting with them.  We try to help people understand why we ask them to stay away, and just generally raise awareness about this critically endangered species.

As often as possible we also try to engage with local fishermen.  Even giving out free
barbless hooks to try to minimize the number of hooking incidents for local seals.

Educating tourists running on the beach.

 Another part of our work is in documenting behavior.  There is a mother and pup who are being watched carefully to assure that the mother and pup are healthy and developing as they should.

Writing notes about nursing and napping schedules.  Much like any new mom!

This is La'akea.  She is actually the pup's auntie!

This is Uma'lea and her pup Holokai (who only just got his name on Monday).

Here is Umalea and her pup Holokai in their cove.

The exciting part of this, is that the foundation watched Uma'lea grow up!  Her mom, Honey GIrl, has had 10 girls on this same coastline.  Now Uma'lea has turned five, and is herself having her first pup in the same cover where she herself was born!  It's wonderful to watch them (from 150' back).  Uma'lea is an incredibly sweet and affectionate mother.  More than any other seal mom they have seen, she is outwardly affectionate with the pup, as seen here putting her flipper around him, pulling him to her and snuggling.

Mom is often seen with her flipper around her pup.
A behavior unique to this first-time mother.

I was very lucky to witness Holokai's first venture out into open water.  Up until now, mom has been caring for him in a protected cove, the same cove where she was born!  Moms stay with their pups for only about 7 weeks, and he is 4 weeks old, so the next few weeks are devoted to teaching him how to find his own food and to survive on his own.  Yesterday's lesson was getting in and out of the rock shelf, swimming in open water for the first time.  The pup was apprehensive, and mom had to bark at him a lot, but eventually they made two trips.   They didn't go far or stay too long, but he did well for his first day.

Mom is teaching her pup to go out into the open water for the first time, leaving the security of the
 pool where he has been raised.  Here she is encouraging him across the rock shelf out into the sea.

Mom is calling the pup to come out, but he's not eager.

The pup's first venture out into open water!  

The pup needed a rest afterwards.  All the exertion and excitement really took a lot out of him!
 But look at how satisfied mom looks!

More snuggling

  Once the excitement of open water was done, and the pup had rested and nursed, now he was feeling fiesty!  He yelped, snapped, nipped, and wiggled, trying to get mom to play with him.  She even nipped him back a few times!  It was great fun to watch!

Pup playing with mom: yelping, nipping, poking at her.

Once my shift was over, I made my way back to the hostel, tired from the sun and the 15 mile round trip on my bike.  I was looking forward to getting in the water and relaxing by the sea.  But of course, no sooner had I gotten to the beach, than I was already back at work.  A large female seal came out to bask on the beach across from where I am staying!  A local had called the hotline, and someone from the response team came out, putting up signs to keep people away from the seal...  not everyone paid attention, though.  So I stayed nearby, answering questions, and doing what I could to explain what was going on.  I fielded questions like:  "Is the seal ok?"  "Do we need to help it get back in the water?"  "Is this seal always here like an attraction?"  "Is he supposed to be here?  I thought seals liked cold water."  I answered what I could, and hoped I was doing right by the seal.

All told, our visitor stayed basking on the beach for over two hours, rolling over pretty regularly, and even occasionally digging her head in the sand!  It was amazing to see her so up close.  When she had finally had enough, she inch-wormed herself back into the water and was gone.  I was surprised that she had stayed on that beach as long as she did, since they tend to like more quiet, remote beaches.  She seemed pretty tolerant though, despite the yelling and frolicking going on around her.