Presentation on Hawaiian Monk Seal

1. Facts about Hawaiian Monk Seal
By Naisha Rawat

2. Why they are called “Monk” ? Hint: pointers

3. Monk seals like to live alone unlike Penguins
sleeping alone Colony

4. What Hawaiian people call monk seals? Can you guess? Hint: face structure

5. Weight:
human baby = 7 lbs Seal pup weight = ?

6. Skin color
Molting: Once per year

7. Monk seals are only found in Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands:
1) Kauai
2) Oahu
3) Molokai
4) Maui
5) Hawaii
Monk seals are
endangered animal. Only
1,500 left.

8. Human Threats to Monk Seals : Smoke
 Global warming : Due to smoke in the Air, temperature is becoming
hotter - the Icebergs are melting and hence sea level is rising and hence
shores getting drowned inside the sea and the seal pups do not have
place to rest when they are born.

9. Marine debris by Humans
 Discarded Fishing gears for eg: Fishing net and Fishing hooks
 Plastic bottles and plastic bags. Plastic does not break down
easily so it remains in water for a while.

10. How cat-born virus “T.Gondi virus” reaches the seal.
The letter "T" stands for Taxoplasma.
 1) It grows in the cat's tummy
 2) virus gets released into the cat waste, which
has this virus's eggs.
 3) Rainwater washes away these virus eggs into
the river
 4) River water goes to the Ocean and spreads the
virus eggs in the Ocean.
 5) Ocean Animals drink this water, including seals
that get this virus, and then monk seals get sick.

11. Which Organization protect Monk seals and How Volunteers help :
Following 3 organizations working to monitor the monk seals and cure them when they are sick or hurt due to
human activities.
 HMAR (Hawaii Marine Animal Response)
 MMC (Marine Mamal Center)
 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
What volunteers do :
1) Volunteers cut these fishing net if seals are entangled in the fishing net
2) Volunteers bring the injured seals to their animal hospital. They keep these seals and take care of
them until their hurt is cured.
3) Finally, monk seals are released into the oceans.
4) Volunteers setup rest areas for the Monk Seals.
5) Volunteers also vaccinate the monk seal using the long injection to protect then from Measles virus

12. How can you kids help Monk Seals?
 1) Use paper bags instead of plastic bags.
 2) Don't throw plastic bottles, straws, and wrappers on the street. Please dump them
in the Re-cycle bin only.
 3) Pick up your pet's waste after they are done, and don't leave it on the street/grass.
 4) Spread awareness to your friends and family members.

13. Thank you friends for paying attention!