A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Monachus schauinslandi
Beaches of Hawaiian Islands.
We found this seal on the beach just leeward of Waikiki and the lady at the house close by said this seal comes to this beach regularly and she has named it. The Hawaiian Monk seal is critically endangered with only 1100 recorded in 2010. The lack of secluded beaches left in Hawaii, scarcity of food in the oceans surrounding the islands, and predation by sharks are some of the challenges facing these marine mammals. It is the official mammal of the Hawaiian Islands, is endemic to Hawaii and is the only seal native to Hawaii.
Spotted on Feb 24, 2010
Submitted on Sep 25, 2011
3 Comments
That is really rare! so sad. We did see a couple of them on our walk around Kaena Pt, Oahu in January a couple years ago. Very special!
Only 7 on the island
i love how relaxed she look.