MAHA’ULEPU — With volunteers ringing up triple-digit hours of service at Po’ipu Beach Park watching a mother and newborn Hawaiian monk seal, an even newer arrival came ashore at Maha’ulepu yesterday. Don Heacock, an aquatic biologist with the state Department
MAHA’ULEPU — With volunteers ringing up triple-digit hours of service at
Po’ipu Beach Park watching a mother and newborn Hawaiian monk seal, an even
newer arrival came ashore at Maha’ulepu yesterday.
Don Heacock, an aquatic
biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of
Aquatic Biology, erected perimeter ropes around the newest seal
family.
Further, he urged folks to respect the endangered species, which on
this island has shown a propensity to plop down on any inviting stretch of
sand, even the South Shore’s busiest beach.
“We’re going to have to learn
how to co-exist with the monk seals, that’s for sure,” said Heacock, uncertain
whether there will be enough volunteers to also keep an eye on the Maha’ulepu
family.
Meanwhile, the Po’ipu Beach monk pup and its mother have moved away
from the kiddie pool and toward the point. Volunteers and biologists watching
the pair since the pup’s birth last month have reported no serious human
interference with the seals.
The sexes of the newest seals will be
difficult to determine until they get a bit older, Heacock said.
Staff
writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or
pcurtis@pulitzer.net
