A Hawaiian monk seal has taken over part of Dog Beach at Honokohau — and she might be there awhile.
The 8-year-old seal, known as Waimanu to most and H01 to researchers, is going through a “catastrophic molt,” where she will shed her top layer of skin and fur.
That makes it difficult for her to spend much time in the water, said Sylvester Orosco, response manager and animal care specialist with Ke Kai Ola Marine Mammal Center at Keahole Point.
“It’s a bad sunburn for all intents and purposes. If you have a bad sunburn, you wouldn’t want to go out swimming,” he said.
Currently, volunteers and staff from the Ke Kai Ola program are sitting nearby to remind people to stay the appropriate distance away from Waimanu and provide information about her species.
It’s hard to say how long she’ll remain at the beach, Orosco said, as one of Waimanu’s molts has never been fully observed.
Her brother “peeled like a banana” and completed a molt in two weeks. But the best estimate is one or two more weeks at the beach.
The group uses signs with red seals to indicate how far to stay away from the seal.
“There’s another reason we’re here, as people don’t see her,” said Cameron McDonald, a volunteer for Ke Kai Ola.
Waimanu’s dark coat makes her vanish in the shady section of the beach, also known as Alula Beach, she has been favoring.
Art Tarsa, also with Ke Kai Ola, said the signs were originally used for researchers who would be so intent on another object they would almost run into the animals.
Cameron and Tarsa have done this duty before, and Tarsa said local residents are good about respecting the animals. Safety of humans is foremost on Orosco’s mind.
“She doesn’t have feet to run away or hands to block someone,” he said.
So, her natural reaction is a bite, with teeth Tarsa described as something between a Saint Bernard and small bear.
“It’s not worth it to get a good selfie pic, get bit and have a secondary infection,” Orosco said.
Although the potential bite is bad enough, Orosco said the probable secondary infection from the bacteria in a seal’s mouth is worse.
The public has been excellent about respecting the seals around the island, Orosco said, which is vital for their resting.
Robert Jones is a regular visitor to the beach, often snorkeling in the area. He was packing up Sunday after a day of photography and exploration.
He said it’s nice to see Waimanu around and doesn’t mind losing part of the beach to her.
“It’s her ocean, I just kind of swim in and enjoy it,” he said.
There are about 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals left in the world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the population is declining at a 4 percent annual rate.
That’s been partially compensated by births in the main Hawaiian Islands, which have increased since 2010, NOAA reports.
Orosco said there are five seals that live on the island, with several more as frequent visitors.
The volunteers stressed the importance of leaving the animals alone.
“They’ll only be here a short time and they really need the space,” McDonald said.
For more information, call 326-7325.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
