Shady Seal Hawaiian Monk Seal
by Debra Banks
Title
Shady Seal Hawaiian Monk Seal
Artist
Debra Banks
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
I was privileged to have seen this beautiful creature peacefully sleeping on Poipu Beach, Kauai.
Then she lifted up her flipper to scratch an itch above her eye. Local volunteers had set up a protective area around her to keep people at a safe distance away so as not to disturb her. She had been tagged and we found out that she was almost 18 years old. I hope she lives for many more.
The official state mammal of Hawaii, the scientific name for the Hawaiian monk seal is Neomonachus schauinslandi. The Hawaiian name is “Ilio holo I ka uaua”, which translates to “dog that runs in rough water”.
In 2016, it was estimated there are 1,400 Hawaiian seals in existence.
Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered, and one of only two remaining kinds of monk seals on Earth, along with the Mediterranean monk seal, whose population has fallen to just 600 individuals. There was once a Caribbean monk seal, but it is believed to be extinct since the 1950's.
The average lifespan of a Hawaiian monk seal is 25 to 30 years. Adult males grow to about 7 feet long and weigh between 300 and 400 pounds. Meanwhile, females can grow to 8 feet long and can weigh between 400 to 600 pounds. Hawaiian monk seals do not have external ears and they cannot rotate their hind flippers underneath their bodies.
Uploaded
February 26th, 2019
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Viewed 3,649 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/18/2024 at 8:59 AM
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Comments (62)
Amy E Fraser
Super sweet seal image Debra! Great color and detail. I love how you caught the curve of a smile as if she were being coy during her photo shoot. Love it!
Jan Mulherin
Congratulations!! This stunning image has been selected to be featured for the week in the “Art for Ever with You” Group Home Page. You are welcome to add a preview of this featured image to the group’s discussion post titled “2019 June: Stunning Group Featured Images and Thank-you’s” for a permanent display within the group, to share this achievement with others. Also feel free to post your feature on our group Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/296998814248643/ Thank you for your participation in the group! ~Jan (June 18, 2019)
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