Rising Tide Images
Pillow Talk
What are friends for if not a place to rest your weary head? Monk seals do not live in colonies and though usually solitary they sometimes need encounters. A young, molting female (left) was making her way to the water after spending the night in the beach naupaka. This male came ashore nearby and galumphed over to greet the female, probably to see if she was receptive. They rolled in the sun and sand for a while, and then departed different directions. The male is RO40 “Ka’ena” born in 2006. The female is known as “Lina” RL98 born in 2019. Female Hawaiian monk seals reach sexual maturity at 5 or 6 years old.
Endemic to Hawaii, this species of monk seal was established in the archipelago millions of years before the human populated main volcanic islands emerged above sea level. The original seal occupied islands have since receded to coral atolls and are part of Papahānaumokuākea. Recent population estimates indicate a slight increase to 1,570 individuals throughout the Hawaiian archipelago. However, Hawaiian monk seals remain endangered and among the rarest of marine mammals.
Pillow Talk
What are friends for if not a place to rest your weary head? Monk seals do not live in colonies and though usually solitary they sometimes need encounters. A young, molting female (left) was making her way to the water after spending the night in the beach naupaka. This male came ashore nearby and galumphed over to greet the female, probably to see if she was receptive. They rolled in the sun and sand for a while, and then departed different directions. The male is RO40 “Ka’ena” born in 2006. The female is known as “Lina” RL98 born in 2019. Female Hawaiian monk seals reach sexual maturity at 5 or 6 years old.
Endemic to Hawaii, this species of monk seal was established in the archipelago millions of years before the human populated main volcanic islands emerged above sea level. The original seal occupied islands have since receded to coral atolls and are part of Papahānaumokuākea. Recent population estimates indicate a slight increase to 1,570 individuals throughout the Hawaiian archipelago. However, Hawaiian monk seals remain endangered and among the rarest of marine mammals.