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Monk seal attack investigation ongoing

Press Watch, The Garden Island, December 27, 2009

K12 is mother of seal slain in separate incident

LIHU‘E — “Maha‘ulepu Mama” is no Hawaiian monk seal to mess with.

She takes her role in perpetuating the endangered species very seriously, and woe to the woman or man who comes too close to her newborn.

Scientifically known as K12, she has given birth to at least four pups at Maha‘ulepu Beach on the South Shore. The most recent, PK4 (sex unknown at present), was earlier this month.

Authorities are continuing to investigate an encounter Monday that involved K12 taking a few bites out of Rebecca Wahlman, 28, of Kirkland, Wash.

Wahlman spent Monday night at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where she received treatment for superficial wounds, according to a county press release. She was released on Tuesday, according to a hospital spokesperson. […]

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Visitor injured in encounter with monk seal off Kauai

Press Watch, Honolulu Advertiser, December 21, 2009

A 28-year-old female visitor from Kirkland, Wash. sustained superficial, non life-threatening injuries Monday in an attack by an adult female monk seal in waters off Kaua’i. […]

The incident took place at around 4:43 p.m. at Mahaulepu Beach on the south shore.

The woman had been snorkeling with a friend at the beach when the current sent her adrift to an area where several monk seals, including an adult female and a pup, were swimming.

The adult female apparently felt threatened by the snorkeler and attacked her. […]

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Monk seal’s death on Molokai investigated as deliberate killing

Press Watch, Honolulu Advertiser, December 17, 2009

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the recent death of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal on Molokai as a deliberate killing.

An adult male monk seal was discovered dead on Monday, southeast of Kaunakakai, said David Schofield, with NOAA’s Pacific Island Regional Office’s marine mammal response program.

A necropsy of the seal on Tuesday determined that it had been killed intentionally, Schofield said. […]

Anyone with information about the seal’s death is encouraged to call NOAA’s 24-hour enforcement hot line at 800-853-1964. […]

This year on Kauai, two Hawaiian monk seals have been deliberately killed, alarming conservationists who are working hard to preserve the rare seals, which are found only in Hawaii. The wild population of the seals is 1,200 or less and dropping 4 percent a year. […]

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Reward offered for info on slaying of monk seal

Press Watch, Honolulu Star Bulletin, December 9, 2009
A sleeping RK19
A sleeping RK19

Federal officials are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal on Kauai in April.

The 5-year-old male seal [RK19] was found dead from foul play on a remote beach near Kaumakani, on the west side of the island, on April 19, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement.

“The killing of this endangered Hawaiian monk seal is not only a violation of federal law, but a crime against all the people who call Hawaii their home,” said Special Agent in Charge William Pickering, of NOAA OLE’s Pacific Islands Division. “It is our hope that this reward will bring someone forward that can supply us with the information needed to arrest and convict those who would commit such a heinous act.” […]

It is illegal to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect any endangered species, according to NOAA. Violations can result in criminal and civil penalties of not more than $50,000, a term of imprisonment of one year or both.

Anyone with information about the case can contact the NOAA enforcement hot line at (800) 853-1964.

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