Tag: direct killing

Posted on

Hawaii’s seal killing outbreak

Media Watch, USA Today, 8 January 2012

No one knows who is killing the seals — a critically endangered species — or why.

But the deaths are coming as the federal government steps up its efforts to protect the seals, leading to simmering resentment among some fishermen who fear new regulations will trample upon their right to fish. The killings are also happening as the misguided notion spreads that the animals aren’t native to Hawaii and don’t belong here.

“It’s really serious. This attitude, this negative attitude toward the seals has overpowered the concern that this is a species that’s going to become extinct,” said Walter Ritte, a Molokai resident and longtime activist who has sounded an alarm about the killings. [More]

Source: Outbreak of endangered seal killings in Hawaii, USA Today, 8 January 2012.

Posted on

Suspected killing of fourth seal investigated on Kauai

Media Watch, KITV, 4 January 2012

A fourth monk seal found dead in the islands in less than three months has state and federal officials appealing for the public’s help to stop the killings. A fisherman reported the latest Hawaiian monk seal found dead two days ago in Pilaa on the Northeast coast of Kauai. It was a juvenile male, who state officials said had suspicious, visible wounds to his head. The injuries are similar to three monk seals found dead on Molokai’s westside in recent weeks.”We hope to stop this trend and the only we can do this is to have people understand that we need to get along and there’s no reason for anyone to go out and kill a monk seal,” said state land director William Aila. [More]

Source: Monk Seal Death On Kauai Under Investigation — Kauai Death Makes Four Dead Seals Since November, KITV, 4 January 2012.

Posted on

Third monk seal found dead

Media Watch, Honolulu Civil Beat, 28 December 2011

A third monk seal was found dead on Molokai Wednesday and officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working to determine the cause of death.

The discovery comes after news last week that NOAA is investigating the deaths of two other monk seals in which foul play is suspected. […]

The monk seal deaths come at a time when tensions between local fishermen and NOAA have escalated as the agency considers expanding protections for the endangered species around the main Hawaiian islands. [More]

Source: Third monk seal found dead on Molokai, Sophie Cocke, Honolulu Civil Beat, 28 December 2011

Posted on

US authorities investigate monk seal deaths

Media Watch, Maui Now, 23 December 2011

State and federal authorities are investigating the suspicious deaths of two Hawaiian monk seals found recently on the south shore of Moloka‘i. […]

Authorities say foul play cannot be ruled out as the cause in either case. […]

Molokai resident Walter Ritte issued a statement saying the deaths are an “indication of a dangerous trend that must be stopped.”

Walter Ritte:  “Our elders are saying that these seals are not Hawaiian. Our young people are calling these seals an invasive species brought in by government. The seals are now the easy targets of blame for the many ills of our depleting fisheries. We need to stand up for the truth: These seals are not only Hawaiian, but have been here longer than the Hawaiians. These seals are not invasive; they are like the Hawaiian people who are struggling to survive in their own lands. Hawaiians need to see themselves when they see a Hawaiian Monk Seal. How we treat the seals, is how we can be expected to be treated as Hawaiians in Hawaii.” [More]

Source: Moloka‘i monk seal deaths deemed suspicious, Wendy Osher, Maui News, 23 December 2011

Posted on

Shot dead on Rhodes

MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study & Protection of the Monk Seal, 7 December 2011

Rhodes seal killingOn Tuesday December 6, the Port Police of Rhodes and the Dodecanese Fisheries Director and President of the Management Body of the Protected Area Karpathos-Saria, Ms. Fotaki Marigo, informed MOm of a dead monk seal on the Karavola islet southwest of Rhodes.

On the same day, the Security Chief of the Port Police of Rhodes, Mr. Vasilis Milathianakis, and volunteers from the Free Diving Association of Dodecanese-Rhodes, went to the site to confirm the incident and collect information and data. In consultation with the Director of MOm’s Rescue and Information Network, Ms. Marianna Psaradellis, all necessary arrangements were made for the collection of samples, since the area is remote and transport of the animal was not possible.

Continue reading “Shot dead on Rhodes”

Posted on

Monk seal favourite killed on Amorgos

— by Erwin Werdenigg, Amorgos Island Magazine
The young seal was found dead on an Amorgos beach

Amorgos – June 15th, 2011: The young friendly male monk seal appearing in the port of Aegiali at the middle of April quickly won the hearts of the people and became a “mascot” of tourists and also the magazine.  On last Friday (June 10th) Dimitris Synodinos (Amorgos Diving Center) alerted that the animal was found dead on the beach.

People from MOm (the Greek monk seal protection group) could not travel to Amorgos themselves due to increased ferry occupancy. The animal was send to Athens on Saturday for autopsy. The examination at MOm showed that:

It was a young male seal, 6-7 months old, in good nutritional status. The animal had injuries in the back sustained by a sharp object, which crossed the side to reach the thoracic cavity, thus injuring the lung. Histological analysis will give us information on whether the animal eventually died from suffocation or internal bleeding. In any case, death resulted from the trauma deliberately inflicted upon the animal, from close distance.

Continue reading “Monk seal favourite killed on Amorgos”