Rousting the young monks

[Printmaker]

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This endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal pair (K 90 and TEM320) have been hanging around the beach for the last few days. They're probably what we would call teenage lovers, though lately K 90 has been loving every female he sees - but that is another story. We usually leave the seals alone but this little stretch of beach is reserved for little human kids and it is safer for both the seals and the humans if they sleep it off a few yards down the beach. NOAA shield men doing their job.

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[Printmaker]

Here come NOAA.

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[Printmaker]

K 90 is being stubborn.

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[Printmaker]

Oh yeah, I used a Monochrom with 50 Summicron.

[fotografr]

Nice photo reportage. I don't think they were very happy about having their naps disrupted.

Edited December 2, 2015 by fotografr

[Iduna]

nice interesting reportage. I like this uncommon vertical format which gives space to the sky and I like the toning.

[Northwest Wanderer]

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Interesting series.

Looks like k90 had his pride hurt by the humans.

[stuny]

Lovely

[Printmaker]

Today K90 and 6FQ were flirting a few hundred yards down the beach.

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Checking for that NOAA guy.

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At last

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Well she is kinda cute

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[Printmaker]

There has been quite a few seal pairs on the beach this year. It could be that they are feeling safer in spite of all of the human company. While the Hawaiian Monk Seal population is falling by about 4% every year and now stands at about 1,100, the population on Kauai is holding between 40 and 45. This year 5 seal pups were born but only two have survived. Of the other three, one was killed by a dog, another was killed by a mentally unstable person and the third washed up on the beach dead from unknown causes. Overall the first year survival rate among pups stands at 20%. Tiger sharks, fishing nets and long liners and boat propellers are the big killers. Add to that all of the pressure humans put on their food supply of octopus, slipper lobsters and reef fish. Now it turns out that the feral cats are carrying a virus that they pick up from mice and rats which is deadly to the seals. Just when humans have stepped in to protect the seals, the other animals that we brought with us are now a threat. It is a vicious circle.

 

BTW: I found out today that K90 was misidentified earlier. Turns out that K90 is a female and Tem 320 and 6FQ are the males. She's 5 which is 15 in human years. Let's hope one of these young boys took care of business.