Monk Seal Pup Revisited

When we arrived on Kauai three days late (another story altogether) Bob and I rushed to Mahaulepu beach to see if the monk seal pup was still there (see November 11 blog for pics of the pup at two days). It had been over six weeks since the little fellow was born and we knew that monk seals are weaned after 5-7 weeks. We were not very optimistic.

 

Still, it was worth a shot. As we neared the location where we had last seen the seals we noticed that the beach was littered with posts and netting used to keep humans away from them.  It looked like someone had made quite an effort to move the barrier as the seals became more active. There was even a makeshift wooden structure to keep the sun off the seals. But we did not see the seals. Even more alarming we did not see the human guards that had been stationed nearby to make sure that the barrier was respected.

 

We walked along the beach thinking we had missed them when we noticed that one of the pieces of driftwood was not, in fact, driftwood. It was the seal pup. It was much larger than before and looked like it had grown from 25 to 200 pounds as expected. Its back and top of its head were still black as pups are when they are born but its underside had turned a beautiful silver color.

 

The mother was nowhere in sight. We assumed that she had left only recently as those who look after the monk seals make a practice of tagging and moving the pup after he has been left on his own. He didn’t look too happy about being abandoned.

 

So here are the after pictures. Our seal is now an adolescent and must fish to survive. His mother won’t return. We wish him well.

 

Images: the top image is a picture of the section of the beach where the seals hung out the last six weeks, the others are pictures of the adolescent seal. All taken December 2008.

Comments

[Tutu]

Aloha . . . the seal watch has been curtailed, from what I understand due to poor road conditions and rain. The mom left at week 5 but the water was too rough to relocate the pup so she has stayed at Mahaulepu. I believe she has been tagged. I am sure the conservationists will clean up the beach when she leaves.

[mgmason]

Thanks, Shannon. Appreciate the information. Also nice to know it's a she not a he pup.

[Bruce Moore]

Cool. Thanks for the update, and glad you made it in time to see the pup again.

How long will it hang out on this beach? Do you know why, now that she is self-sufficient, she keeps coming back?

Cheers,

Bruce

[mgmason]

Not sure how long she will stay on the beach. Typically they are pretty solitary creatures so would expect it to head out soon. Or be relocated.