The cooperation being shown by representatives of various federal, state, county and community agencies and volunteer groups, regarding protection of endangered Hawaiian monk-seal pups on the South Shore, could turn the area into a case study of how protecting such
The cooperation being shown by representatives of various federal, state, county and community agencies and volunteer groups, regarding protection of endangered Hawaiian monk-seal pups on the South Shore, could turn the area into a case study of how protecting such species is supposed to be done, a federal official said.
“Everybody’s working together,” said Delores Clark, spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service. “It’s just working out wonderfully,” she said of a protection plan for two monk-seal pups born earlier this month at Maha‘ulepu and Poipu Beach Park, and their mothers.
“I think this is an example of how this should work. We’re pretty pleased,” she said. “It’s good for the seals and good for the people who want to check them out.
‘The NOAA has had wonderful support from the Kaua‘i community,” and many people were active in development of a monk-seal protection and education plan embraced by all involved, including Jean Souza, the NOAA humpback whale expert on the island, who offered her services, Clark said.
Each agency and community group has a designated contact person, so changes are easily communicated among those who formatted the plan, she added.
Biologists are on duty at Poipu Beach Park around the clock, and Millie Johnston has been assigned to ensure a continuous presence at Maha‘ulepu over the next five weeks, or until the pups are weaned from their mothers and begin feeding on their own.
“They’re doing well,” nursing, and have been in and out of the water, Clark said of the pups. The mothers appear to be healthy, also, she said.
In fact, they are so active that lifeguards at Poipu Beach Park, NOAA officials, volunteers and others have had their hands full moving fencing and other barriers to different parts of the beaches as the new families move around, she explained. The barriers, to keep humans, dogs and other animals from getting too close to the new families, move frequently to match the seals’ moves, and are “in the right place to protect the seals.”
Volunteers, NOAA staff and others are stationed at both Maha‘ulepu and Poipu Beach Park, with printed materials and binoculars, and are prepared to field questions from residents and visitors, Clark said.
Souza said anyone interested in being a volunteer for the project should call 246-2861 for more information.
Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
