After an all too brief five-week stay on busy Kaimana Beach, Koalani has been weaned and relocated. The relocation is necessary from both a conservation and safety aspect. Unfortunately, it means we can no longer see this enigmatic Hawaiian Monk Seal pup.
On Wednesday, August 17, observers found Koalani alone on Kaimana Beach. Since it was five weeks since his birth, officials assumed he was weaned. However, twelve hours later, Rocky came back to spend a bit more time with her pup. That extra time didn’t last long, though, as Rocky made her final departure on August 18. Once officials were certain she was gone for good, they sprung into action.
Koalani Has Been Weaned and Relocated
On average, Hawaiian Monk Seals nurse for five to six weeks, massively increasing their size during that time. Knowing this, Mrs. Island Miler and I went to see Koalani once more on Saturday, August 13. And it’s a good thing we did because, soon after, Koalani was weaned and subsequently relocated to a remote beach on Oahu.
As was the case with his sister, Kaimana, NOAA officials deemed it necessary to relocate Koalani for proper development. Juvenile Hawaiian Monk Seals are highly impressionable. Being around so many humans would undoubtedly have an impact on the inquisitive not-so-little guy, which could lead to him developing an affinity to being around humans and actually seeking them out. That’s not good for his own ability to socialize with others, and it can also create a safety risk for both the seal and the human.
That’s why Koalani was captured late on August 18 and taken back to NOAA’s Monk Seal facilities on Oahu. There, he was vaccinated against the deadly morbillivirus, given the official flipper tag RQ58, and received a temporary satellite tracking tag. The following morning, Koalani was taken to an undisclosed beach and released so that he can grow and learn with other Hawaiian Monk Seals.
Final Thoughts
It’s a bit bittersweet to know that Koalani has been weaned and relocated. It was nice seeing him and Rocky on an easily accessible beach, but this is just the natural progression of a Monk Seal’s life. Moreover, every successful birth and weaning of a Hawaiian Monk Seal – especially in the Main Hawaiian Islands – is a reason to celebrate. These critically endangered animals need all the help they can get!