The elusive Hawaiian Monk Seal! TRAVELERS JOURNAL EP#050 w/ @bambam808 & @brandybb !!
These are some amazing creatures that are very rare. I have lived in Hawaii for most of my life, and I have only seen 3-5 EVER! So everytime we are able to see one it is an amazing blessing. There is a huge push to redevelop this species as it is quickly dissapearing. With that said most are tagged and chipped, as this big beautiful mother is. While walking to see here there was actually another lady who turned out to be working for the redevelopment company that protects them. She was very stern, strict and would not let us nearby. This was awesome as well because she gave us the history of this beautiful girl.
Apparently they picked her up half dead off the coast of Molokai after being gang raped (I couldnt think of a better way to describe it... although KEEP IN MIND THIS IS THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. This is what animals do.) by a pack of male monk seals. They fixed her up, helped her on her path to childbirth and now here she is resting peacefully on the Big Island!
Interested in some facts? Check out below for some basic Monk Seal Facts!
COMMON NAME: Hawaiian Monk Seal
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Neomonachus schauinslandi
TYPE: Mammals
DIET: Carnivores
GROUP NAME: Colony, rookery
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 25 to 30 years
SIZE: Length, 7.5 ft
WEIGHT: 500 to 610 lbs
Make sure to tune in to @steemitoutdoors . There are some big projects ramping up for all you outdoor people, and even those who arent but enjoy watching and learning!
Till next time Travelers!
Steepshot
What a brutal reality if that is how male monk seals mate to females no wonder why their species are few. I don't thinking chipping and tagging them is the solution right now, they must protect the females and young ones if by nature these males are wild.