Field Report: January 2024

The Kauai team logged 256 seal sightings this month (267 in Dec, 251 in Nov, 199 in Oct, 216 in Sept, 254 in Aug). This included 33 individually identified seals.

New:

·       Several new seals were sighted this month, including three small juveniles. All are likely Niihau seals that we plan to flipper tag soon.

·       Seal activity continues to be busy at Poipu Beach Park as well as Salt Pond Beach Park, with 2 to 5 seals present daily. Extensive management required.

Updates:

·       Adult female RH38 sent to KKO via USCG for diagnostics and care. The seal is stable and continues to receive medical care. UPDATE: Sighted on 1/14/2024 in excellent body condition. We will continue to closely monitor this seal since she has required KKO rehab 3 times, however we will remove routine updates from the monthly report.

·       Adult female RL30 remains hooked since May 2023. UPDATE: Seal sighted on 2/4/24 hook free, she threw the hook on her own after 9 months. 

·       Seal displacements: 3 in January. Displaced a young unknown seal from the Kukui Ula boat ramp. A subadult RP28 away from the Poipu lifeguard tower. And adult female RL30 displaced from Glass Beach at sunset due to unsafe nighttime activities that frequently occur on this beach.

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Field Report: December 2023

Monthly Update: The Kauai team logged 267 seal sightings this month (251 in Nov, 199 in Oct, 216 in Sept, 254 in Aug, 230 in July). This included 32 individually identified seals.

New:

·       Seal activity continues to be busy at Poipu Beach Park as well as Salt Pond Beach Park, with 2 to 5 seals present daily. Extensive management required.

Updates:

·       Adult female RH38 sent to KKO via USCG for diagnostics and care. The seal is stable and continues to receive medical care. UPDATE: Sighted on 1/14/2024 in excellent body condition.

·       Adult female RL30 remains hooked since May 2023. UPDATE: Seal sighted on 1/3/24 still in good body condition but hook remains. Capture and hook removal may be necessary in future.

·       Two bleach marks applied this month.

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Monk Seal Monday #204:

Year End Monk Seal Management Stats for 2023:

Grand sightings total:

o   3,083 or 8.5 seals sightings/day on Kauai in 2023

o   3,381 or 9.3/day in 2022

o   2,377 or 6.5/day in 2021

o   2,005 or 5.5/day in 2020

o   3,154 or 8.9/day in 2019

o   3,253 or 8.9/day in 2018

o   3,621 or 9.9/day in 2017

o   3,236 or 8.9/day in 2016

o   3,321 or 9.1/day in 2015

o   2,516 or 6.9/day in 2014

Kauai population:

o   70 unique individual seals sighted on Kauai in 2023

o   69 in 2022

o   65 in 2021

o   67 in 2020

o   67 in 2019

o   60 in 2018

o   60 in 2017

o   56 in 2016

o   53 in 2015

o   47 in 2014

Births: 3 total born on Kauai in 2023

o   3 pups born on North Shore in two locations.

Rescues: 6 seal responses that resulted in full recoveries:

o   Adult female RKA2 – sustained injuries consistent with dog bite wounds. Treated with medication in the field and fully recovered.

o   4-year-old female RL30 was hooked with a large circle hook in mouth with trailing gear. The gear was snipped away without disturbing the seal. We intend to remove the hook when safe to do so, however the hook does not appear to affect her foraging.

o   2-year-old male RP32 was hooked with light-weight gear, the line was snipped without disturbing the seal and the hook came out without intervention.

o   Adult male R610 was body hooked with two J-hooks on his left flank along with extensive trailing line. The line was trimmed away without disturbing the seal, and the hooks came out later without intervention.

o   Adult female RK28 and well-known mother seal sustained severe mobbing wound injuries from mating. Antibiotics were administered in the field and she fully recovered.

o   Adult female RH38 was brought into captivity for treatment of multiple ailments at Ke Kai Ola for the third time in her life, and once again restored to full health and returned to Kauai.

Mortalities: 2 confirmed mortality in 2023:

o   3-year-old female RM28 died after sustaining severe shark bite injuries. She was brought in for captive care, but succumbed to the injuries.

o   Adult female R615 died of unknown causes, necropsy results were inconclusive.

Niihau Seals (likely): sighted a minimum of 9 new seals in 2023, but likely more as several new untagged seals had no markings or scars so no temporary IDs were given (9 in 2022, 8 in 2021, 8 in 2020, 5 in 2019, 9 in 2018, 12 in 2017, 6 in 2016, 14 in 2015).

Displacements: 12 total displacements occurred.

o   9 displacements from the Poipu Keiki Pool.

o   2 displaced off the road

o   1 displaced off the lifeguard tower access ladder

Vaccination for morbillivirus efforts:

o   5 seals were vaccinated

Bleach marking effort:

o   16 bleach marks were applied

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Field Report: November 2023

Monthly Update: The Kauai team logged 251 seal sightings this month (199 in Oct, 216 in Sept, 254 in Aug, 230 in July, 270 in June). This included 31 individually identified seals.

New:

·       Seal activity continues to be busy at Poipu Beach Park, with 2 to 5 seals present daily. Extensive management required.

Updates:

·       Adult female RH38 sent to KKO via USCG for diagnostics and care. The seal is stable and continues to receive medical care. UPDATE: Seal was released on 11/14 and has been sighted routinely since in good health.

·       Adult male R610 was body hooked. Staff trimmed away extensive trailing gear. We suspect the hooks have fallen out by now, but still need confirmation on his next sighting. UPDATE: Was sighted with no hooks along body, healed fully.

·       Adult female RL30 remains hooked. UPDATE: Seal sighted on 6/10, 7/16, 10/2, and 11/17 still in good body condition but hook remains. Capture and hook removal may be necessary in future.

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Monk Seal Monday #201: RH38 Returns!

Earlier this summer, after RH38 was reported in the same area for three weeks and, then, logging for 8 days and showing difficulty moving on land, she was taken into care. After an extended stay at Ke Kai Ola, the Hawaiian Monk Seal Hospital, in Kona on the Island of Hawaii, RH38 has returned to Kauai. RH38 is a seven-year-old female who was born to the well-known RK30.

Upon release, a very healthy-looking RH38 made straight for the water.

Since RH38’s release on the east side, two days later, a seal matching her description was reportedly hauled out on the beach fronting 1 Hanalei Hotel.

For details on her care, here’s a press release issued by The Marine Mammal Center.

Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Heads Home to Kauaʻi After Receiving Life-Saving Care at The Marine Mammal Center.

(Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i – November 21, 2023) – The Marine Mammal Center, the world’s largest marine mammal hospital, is happy to announce the successful release of Hawaiian monk seal RH38 back to Kauaʻi.

Since her rescue in June, the Center had been treating the adult female seal for a series of ailments including kidney stones, suspected pneumonia and a fractured upper left canine tooth at Ke Kai Ola, the Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital in Kailua-Kona. The successful rescue, treatment and release of RH38 was made possible thanks to the Center’s partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Kona Community Hospital and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

“We’re ecstatic to give an animal that’s so dear to our hearts, like RH38, another chance in the wild. Every seal matters for an endangered population,” says Dr. Sophie Whoriskey, Associate Director, Hawaiʻi Conservation Medicine at The Marine Mammal Center. “It was clear during her treatment that her tooth fracture, and the associated infection, was the primary cause of her inability to thrive in the wild and we’re confident this won’t impact her anymore.” 
 
During RH38’s nearly five months of treatment, a CT scan conducted in August by experts at Kona Community Hospital confirmed the severity of the tooth fracture and infection. 
 
The Center’s veterinary team performed additional diagnostics including full body radiographs (X-rays), extensive abdominal ultrasound exams and submitted a series of blood samples for diagnostic testing to check for signs of toxins or infectious disease. All tests came back negative.  

Animal care experts offered RH38 a hearty and calorie-rich diet of sustainably caught herring and she gained an impressive 100 pounds while in treatment.

A TIMELY RELEASE FOR A SEAL READY TO GO HOME
On November 13, experts at the Center noticed RH38 began to exhibit signs of significant behavioral stress that included the animal biting at its tail. While it’s not unusual for monk seals to display stress related behavior while in a rehabilitation setting, this seal’s stress behaviors were more severe.

Fortunately, RH38 had already passed a release exam and timing worked out so that the Center’s team and partners at NOAA and USCG were able to coordinate an immediate release in the best interest of her health. 
 
The next day, the Center’s team met with USCG crew members at Kona International Airport to help load RH38 ontoa C-130 aircraft for release back to Kauaʻi.
 
“This has truly been a monk seal ‘ohana (family) effort,” said Jamie Thomton, NOAA’s Kauaʻi Marine Wildlife Response Coordinator. “RH38’s homecoming was a collective effort, and we especially want to thank our Kauaʻi volunteers and community members. They’ve helped monitor RH38 over the years, and their reports earlier this year alerted us that something was wrong.  Our Kauaʻi team came together to rescue her, and with the partnership of the Center and U.S. Coast Guard, RH38 was successfully rehabilitated and released back to her Kauaʻi home.”
 
NOAA, the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resource, and the rest of the Kauaʻi monk seal ʻohana will continue to keep a watchful eye on RH38 as she gets back into her routines around the Garden Island.
 
RH38 was born in 2016 and was first admitted to Ke Kai Ola in 2017 for malnutrition and gastrointestinal parasites. She was released in good health and came back in 2019 with several health concerns, including severe traumatic myositis (muscle inflammation) that was diagnosed on CT scan, septicemic infection, kidney stones in both kidneys, urinary tract infection and presumed pneumonia. 
 
Since 2014, the Center has rehabilitated and released 45 monk seals, excluding RH38 who has been released three times. Most of these seals have been rescued from and returned to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as part of the Center’s partnership with NOAA Fisheries. Together, the Center works with NOAA to identify seals in need, rescue and rehabilitate them, and give them a second chance at life.
 
The Center’s partnership with NOAA Fisheries and other cooperating agencies is more important than ever to prevent this endangered species from becoming extinct.  

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Field Report: October 2023

The Kauai team logged 199 seal sightings this month (216 in Sept, 254 in Aug, 230 in July, 270 in June, 287 in May). This included 30 individually identified seals.

New:

·       One seal vaccinated this month, a new juvenile Niihau male.

Updates:

·       Adult female RH38 sent to KKO via USCG for diagnostics and care. The seal is stable and continues to receive medical care. 

·       Adult female RK28 was treated with antibiotics for moderately severe mobbing wounds on the lower back. The seal recovered and was sighted in good health this month. She was possibly pregnant, but the expected birthing date has passed. We suspect the seal will forego pupping this year. UPDATE: Seal molted this month and is thus not reproducing this year. The mobbing wounds have healed. 

·       Adult male R610 was body hooked. Staff trimmed away extensive trailing gear. We suspect the hooks have fallen out by now, but still need confirmation on his next sighting.

·       Adult female RL30 remains hooked. UPDATE: Seal sighted on 6/10, 7/16 and 10/2, still good body condition but hook remains. Capture and hook removal may be necessary in future.

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Field Report: September 2023

The Kauai team logged 216 seal sightings this month (254 in Aug, 230 in July, 270 in June, 287 in May, 303 in April). This included 29 individually identified seals.

Updates:

·       Adult female RH38 sent to KKO via USCG for diagnostics and care. The seal is stable and continues to receive medical care. 

·       Adult female RK28 was treated with antibiotics for moderately severe mobbing wounds on the lower back. The seal recovered and was sighted in good health this month. She was possibly pregnant, but the expected birthing date has passed. We suspect the seal will forego pupping this year.

·       RS10/PK3 extensive pup watch schedule continued on the north shore – 4 months of pup watch total!

·       Adult male R610 was body hooked. Staff trimmed away extensive trailing gear. We suspect the hooks have fallen out by now, but still need confirmation on his next sighting.

·       Adult female RL30 remains hooked. UPDATE: Seal sighted on 6/10, 7/16 and 10/2, still good body condition but hook remains. Capture and hook removal may be necessary in future.

·       Booster vaccinated two seals this month.

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Field Report: August 2023

Monthly Update: The Kauai team logged 254 seal sightings this month (230 in July, 270 in June, 287 in May, 303 in April, 294 in Mar). This included 34 individually identified seals.

New:

·       Juvenile male RP32 was hooked with light weight monofilament trailing from his mouth. The trailing line was snipped, no hook observed externally. Suspect small hook in mouth which will not likely cause significant harm. Seal has been resighted many times since in good health.

·       Adult male R610 was body hooked and trailed extensive gear. The gear consisted of a pigtail swivel and 200 pound monofilament line as well as 4 medium j-hooks and medium weight line and bobber used for shore casting/reef fishing. The gear was tangled together and trailing from two hooks embedded in his left flank. The line was snipped close to the hooks and all of the gear removed, except for the two medium sized j-hook that remain superficially embedded in the seals body. No further response necessary, the hooks will fall out without intervention.

·       Adult male R411 was displaced by staff down the beach after he hauled out against the Poipu lifeguard tower, preventing lifeguard access.

·       New juvenile male seal was flipper tagged as R8HI and vaccinated twice.

·       A visitor touched a seal at Poipu causing it to rear up and vocalize. Lifeguards warned the person over the bull-horn not to disturb the wildlife.

Updates:

·       Adult female RH38 sent to KKO via USCG for diagnostics and care. The seal is stable and continues to receive medical care.

·       PK3 weaned on the north shore. Minimal problems encountered during nursing period, mostly off leash local dogs. Pup was tagged as RS10 and vaccinated twice. The extensive pup watch schedule continues.

·       Adult female RL30 remains hooked. UPDATE: Seal sighted on 6/10 and 7/16, still good body condition but hook remains. Capture and hook removal may be necessary in future.

Volunteers

·       2 volunteers were recruited and trained at Poipu Beach Park.

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Field Report: July 2023

The Kauai team logged 230 seal sightings this month (270 in June, 287 in May, 303 in April, 294 in Mar, 249 in Feb). This included 28 individually identified seals.

Updates:

·       Adult female RH38 sent to KKO via USCG for diagnostics and care. This seal has been to KKO twice prior. She is being treated for possible reproductive complications, pneumonia, and kidney stones. She remains stable and is eating fish.

·       Hooked seal reported by fisherman at PMRF. The fisherman did not hook the seal, but did see a large circle hook and trailing line. Later, subadult female seal RL30 was found in the Poipu area with a large circle hook in the lower left side of mouth and had heavy trailing line ending with a pigtail swivel attached. The line was snipped using the pole-mounted seat belt cutter, removing the entanglement hazard. UPDATE: Seal sighted on 6/10 and 7/16, still in good body condition but hook remains. Capture and hook removal may be necessary in future.

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Field Report: June 2023

The Kauai team logged 270 seal sightings this month (287 in May, 303 in April, 294 in Mar, 249 in Feb, 252 in Jan). This included 35 individually identified seals.

New:

·       Adult female RH38 sent to KKO via USCG for diagnostics and care. This seal has been to KKO twice prior. This time, the seal is in good body condition, but was logging for 8 days and was staying in the same area for 3 weeks. Seal was alert, but had difficulty moving on land. Seal is healthy and stable currently and on antibiotics. Toxo test was negative. 

·       PK2 weaned after 45 days of nursing, was flipper tagged (RS24) and vaccinated. Pup is large with ax girth of 121 cm.

Updates:

·       PK1: The weaned pup has remained in natal area. Booster vaccine was also given this month.

·       Hooked seal reported by fisherman at PMRF. Fisher did not hook the seal, but did see a large circle hook and trailing line. Later, subadult female seal RL30 was found in the Poipu area with a large circle hook in the lower left side of mouth and had heavy trailing line ending with a pigtail swivel attached. The line was snipped using the pole-mounted seat belt cutter, removing the entanglement hazard. UPDATE: Seal sighted on 6/10 and 7/16, still good body condition but hook remains. Capture and hook removal may be necessary in future.

Bleach markings: 1 seal was bleach marked this month.

Vaccinations: the weaned seal RS30 was fully vaccinated.

Displacements: 1 seal was displaced from the Poipu keiki pool, per the management plan.

                             2 seals displaced from roadway at Fuji Beach, Kapaa.

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