A big Mahalo to everyone who was so patient with the last newsletter while we refined our computer skills. I apologize to those who received it twice and those who didn’t receive it for weeks.

Because of sustained interest in the Po`ipu mom and pup, I have decided to dedicate this whole issue to the six-week birth - growth - weaning cycle, in which we humans were privileged to participate. The real value in observing the seals and other endangered species is in our ability to understand how they live and survive in an ecosystem which we share.

Mom weighed approximately 600 lbs. when she gave birth to her 25-30 lbs. female pup. Mom did not eat for the six weeks that she nursed the pup and the pup's only sustenance during this time was mother's milk. One could observe the little pup growing rapidly as she gained about 5 lbs. a day, weighing approximately 200 lbs. when weaned. The mom lost well over 200 lbs. so she had to leave to replenish her lost body weight. During the last week before they separated, they looked very similar in size, with the pup’s coat gradually lightening from its original shiny black.

During the week before weaning, the mom would leave for extended periods. The pup was content to play by herself for hours. One of her favorite things was a sign that had been strung up in the water to warn swimmers to stay back. She also scavenged garbage in the shallow water and was frequently seen playing with Coke cans, beach shoes, plastic bags, etc. Marine debris and garbage are a great hazard to these endangered mammals.

Sometime during the night of August 20, the Po`ipu mom quietly left to replenish herself, leaving the pup alone on the beach. It had been decided earlier that the pup would be relocated to a remote beach on Kaua`i. So during the night of August 21, she was gently and lovingly moved to her new home. As the lights of the truck were turned onto the small pool where she was being gathered up, a large school of silvermullet leapt up and over the pup in what seemed to me to be a parting gesture. It was a fitting end to a beautiful cycle that allowed so many people to open their hearts to two endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals that shared their birthing and nurturing time with us. Several people are closely monitoring the pup and they report that she is doing well and seems to be learning to feed herself.

Possibly what we have shared of this miracle will soften and dispel these words from an unknown author:

Mahalo,

Barbara Frazier
Kaua`i Monk Seal Watch Program Volunteer Coordinator and Liaison

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