Photo Courtesy KITV
Protestors picket Waikiki Aquarium over seal “abduction”
Sealed fate
Press Watch, Honolulu Star Bulletin, October 22, 2009
Molokai residents say a federal agency should not have removed a Hawaiian monk seal without their consent
Molokai residents flew to Oahu to protest a federal agency’s removal of a nearly blind Hawaiian monk seal from waters off Kaunakakai.
The residents, who held signs yesterday in front of the Waikiki Aquarium where the seal was taken, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration removed the seal known as “KP2” without consulting the Molokai community.
They also said the seal should have been treated for cataracts months ago.
“The kids loved that seal,” said Molokai resident Karen Holt. “There was no opportunity to say goodbye. Nothing.”
Keiko Bonk, the Hawaii program director for the Marine Conservation Biology Institute’s monk seal campaign, said there needs to be more communication between the community and NOAA seal recovery officials.
Hanohano Naehu, who lives on Molokai, said federal officials need to find a better way of working with Hawaii residents in the recovery of the monk seals, especially with the animal’s numbers increasing on the island. […]
Seal diagnosed with cataracts
Press Watch, Honolulu Advertiser, October 20, 2009
Ailment prevents endangered animal from being set free
The first Hawaiian monk seal successfully raised from birth in captivity was diagnosed with cataracts after being plucked from Kaunakakai Harbor on Friday, which means he won’t be going back to the wild.
It’s rare to see cataracts in a seal so young.
At under 2 years old, the seal — called KP2 — is still considered an adolescent. […]
“Every individual is important to the population,” said David Schofield, NOAA marine mammal response coordinator.
Schofield said it’s believed KP2 developed cataracts at a young age because he missed out on mother’s milk.
So far, Schofield said, scientists have been unable to create a formula that matches the richness of natural seal milk.
KP2 will spend the rest of his life in captivity. Hawaiian monk seals live to be about 25 to 30 years old.
“He will likely spend the rest of his days,” Schofield said, “as an ambassador for monk seals.” […]
KP2 Seal Taken from Molokai Yesterday
Press Watch, Molokai Dispatch, 17 October 2009
KP2, the young Hawaiian monk seal that had made Kaunakakai Wharf his home, was taken from the area by NOAA yesterday morning. He is currently being held at Waikiki Aquarium for a thorough medical exam, according to NOAA biologist David Schofield. Schofield would not say how long KP2 would remain at the aquarium or what the next move might be.
The community has mixed feelings about the seal’s departure. NOAA has discussed relocating KP2 to Ka`ula Rock near Niihau west of Kauai. Karen Holt of the Molokai Community Service Council said she is worried about the seal’s safety.
“The tiger shark population in the Ka’ula area is large and aggressive,” she explained.
Holt said she hopes that NOAA would do enough research to be able to assure those who had come to love KP2 that he would be safe.
But NOAA officials say they have believe KP2 has already survived shark in his travels around Molokai and Lanai. They say he displays enough “wild” behaviors, like foraging on his own, that show he may still have a chance to live a normal seal’s life if relocated away from people while he is still young. NOAA officials say Niihau has the largest breeding population of Hawaiian monk seals in the Main Hawaiian Islands. […]
NOAA has not given definite plans for KP2, but as of two weeks ago, relocating him to the Niihau area as well as placing him into captivity at Sea Life Park were still in discussion.
Kaunakakai Wharf, Molokai, Hawaii
Orphaned, newborn Monachus monachus rescued in Kefalonia isl.
Press Release | MOm
An orphaned new-born Monachus monachus was found stranded late in the afternoon of Wednesday 14th of October, at the beach of Assos in Kefalonia island, by local residents. MOm’s Rescue team travelled immediately to the area and examined the 10 day female pup that was still alone at the beach, lost from its mother following the severe storms of the last few days. The animal was found dehydrated and had visible injuries on its body, probably form the wave action on the rocky coast. MOm is the Greek NGO working actively, over the last decades, to conserve the Mediterranean monk seal, a critically endangered species with less than 600 individuals remaining throughout the world
The young seal was named “Nefeli” by the local residents and volunteers, that found her helpless and stood guard overnight, until MOm’s team arrived to the area. MOm’s specialists provided first aid to Nefeli and, assisted by the Port Police officers of Fiskardo, prepared the pup for its immediate and safe transportation to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre of MOm at Steni Vala, Alonissos, within the National Marine Park of Alonnisos, Northern Sporades.
Upon its arrival at MOm’s Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and the completion of the first veterinary tests, MOm’s staff, in collaboration with the Veterinary School of the University of Thessaloniki, will put Nefeli in an intensive veterinary therapy and rehabilitation program, The first critical phase includes the gradual provision of fish porridge, as there is still no substitute of maternal milk for the Mediterranean monk seal.
The treatment and rehabilitation program of a Mediterranean monk seal pup lasts approximately 5 months and if it is completed successfully the animal is released healthy back to its natural environment. The complete rescue, treatment and rehabilitation procedures all follow strict international protocols. The whole process is long and demanding for both Nefeli and the people involved, with several tests, continuous treatment, around the clock feedings and hard physical work. But MOm’s specialized personnel, the various expert collaborators and especially the volunteers assisting, are all optimistic and determined to make their best to see Nefeli healthy.
MOm would like to thank the Port Police Authority of Fiskardo and all the local supporters for their valuable contribution in the effort to rescue the new-born monk seal pup.
If you would like to support Nefeli’s rescue and treatment program, do visit MOm’s site www.mom.gr.
Baby monk seal born in Mauritanian reserve
Press Watch, ANSA-Med, September 29, 2009
(ANSAmed) – MADRID – A baby monk-seal, one of the ten most endangered mammals in the world, was born last week in a natural reserve in Mauritania that is financed by the Spanish government. Monk-seals had not given birth on the shores of the eastern Atlantic for centuries. The baby seal, named Sofia in honour of the Queen of Spain, who visited the reserve two years ago, was spotted at the foot of a cliff by a patrol which protects monk-seals and works for Spanish foundation CBD-Habitat. Press agency EFE reported that sources within the Spanish ministry of the Environment made the announcement. It is since the 15th Century that the Mediterranean monk-seal did not reproduce on the beaches, islands and nooks of the Mauritanian coast because human hunters had forced them to retreat to deep caves, including underwater ones, along the coast.
Mauritania
Nouadhibou, Mauritania