Nukaau was born on Laysan Island in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands in 1981 and was brought to the Waikiki Aquarium as a two-year-old. He’s a big boy. Or, rather, a big, old man. He is now nearly 28 years old, and he measures almost 8 feet in length and weighs between 380 and 420 pounds. He is one of two seals at the 104-year-old aquarium; the other is Makaonaona. Maka was born on French Frigate Shoals in the summer of 1984. Three-weeks later, he was either abandoned or orphaned and brought to the Aquarium. Amazingly, he survived. (Most pups are not weaned until 5 to 7 weeks of age.) Today, Maka is a healthy 370 to 390 pounds and measures in the neighborhood of 7 feet.
I was quite surprised by Nuka’s and Maka’s response when an announcement rang out over the loudspeakers at the Aquarium this morning. A woman announced that the two Hawaiian monk seals were about to go through their daily feeding and training exercises. With that, the two seals, which had been lazing like alligators with their eyes barely above water, sprang to life. They hauled out of the water onto a rock ledge, raised their heads in the air like howling wolves and growled at each other.
There wasn’t anything aggressive in their behavior; it was more like they were arguing over who was hungrier. “I am so hungry I could eat a horse,” one said. “Well, I am so hungry I could eat a cow,” the other responded. On and on this went until two trainers arrived.
Using operant conditioning, the trainers have tamed these animals to where the trainers can literally stick their fingers in the seals’ mouths. They can stroke the sides of the seals’ bellies. They can touch their flippers and probe around. Of course, the trainers are doing this to check their health. Throughout, the trainers toss the seals chunks of fish which the seals swallow whole. Over the years, the seals have picked up a few tricks, twirling in the water and waving their front flippers.
If you come across a seal on the beach, about the only trick you’ll see them perform is blinking their eyes. That’s because when seals haul out, they do so to rest. For them, it’s like Thanksgiving afternoon; they’re sleeping off a big feed. If they are disturbed–by us or our dogs–they made head back into the water too soon. A fatigued seal is much easier prey for sharks than a rested one. So give resting seals wide berth. It’s actually the law. As an endangered animal, it is illegal to distrub them.
Here are some responsible viewing guidelines from NOAA Fisheries:
1. Keep a safe distance. For seals, that’s 50 yards/150 feet. Do not chase, closely approach, surround, feed, swim with, or attempt to touch marine wildlife. Use binoculars or telephoto lenses to assure a good view from the recommended distances.
2. In the ocean, monk seals may exhibit inquisitive behavior. Do not attempt to approach these seals or “play” with them. The seals may misinterpret your actions and could cause serious injury. Cautiously swim back to shore or your boat and watch them from a safe distance.
3. Do not attempt to push seals back into the water.
4. Use extra caution in the vicinity of mothers and young and in other sensitive wildlife habitat used for feeding, nursing, resting or avoiding predators.
5. For your safety and their protection, never entice marine wildlife to approach you.
6. Be careful not to surprise marine wildlife. Loud noises and abrupt movements can startle and stress wildlife, which can react unpredictably, harming themselves or you. Disturbing wildlife interrupts their ability to perform critical functions such as feeding, breeding, nursing, resting or socializing.
7. When in the presence of monk seals, please remember to keep your pet on a leash at all times in order to protect against injury and the transmission of disease between seals and pets.
You’ll find more information about seals here. If you have questions about our precious Hawaiian monk seals, please post a comment, and I’ll find an answer for you.