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Kaua‘i loses one of its own
By The Garden Island
A pregnant mother of four, RK06 died Thursday after suffering from a suspected gun shot wound.
The long-time North Shore resident was a critical member of her community, investing tremendous energy in raising her children.
Known locally as ilio-holo-ikauaua (the dog that runs in rough waters), she enjoyed fishing and basking in the sun on secluded beaches.
Friends remember RK06 for her big black eyes and the soft folds of fur around her neck that resembled a monk’s cowl.
A misanthrope at heart, the solitary soul spent the vast majority of her life at sea. She could skin dive to depths of 500 feet for 20 minutes at a time, scouring coral reefs and sandy bottoms for fish, eels, octopus and lobsters.
Despite weighing 600 pounds, RK06 swam with grace in her sleek gray suit.
Although she would often receive star treatment when she stumbled upon more populated locales, humans greatly agitated her.
And so it was on a sunny May day on Kaua‘i that some senseless fool ended her life.
She was preceded in death by a 4-year-old male relative, who was apparently dealt the same fatal hand April 19 at a nearby beach.
This inhumane killing must stop before it’s too late.
The critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, the most endangered endemic marine mammal in the United States, deserves protection and those who impede this necessary and noble effort warrant harsh punishment.
With less than 1,200 of these seals left in the world, we should all be championing their comeback. These cruel acts that edge this special species toward extinction must not be allowed to stand.
Hawaiian monk seals, a treat to visitors and a treasure to residents, face enough human and environmental challenges as it is in their perilous fight to recover. From overfishing to habitat loss, shark predation to entanglement, the last thing these precious creatures should have to fear is a coward shooting them in the back while they sun themselves on the beach.
While other countries with healthy seal populations allow their citizens to kill for sport, such is not the case here. A distinct line must be drawn in the sand. These two seals here, like some others before them, were not destroyed for food or cultural practice.
Kaua‘i suffered a terrible loss, but we can still help by sharing useful information with investigators by calling 1-800-853-1964.
We can also participate in educational outreach activities, volunteer to raise funds for seal coordinators and urge our legislators to support seal recovery programs in the Hawaiian Islands.
The Save Our Seals program says every year we wait brings the Hawaiian monk seal closer to extinction. Survival rates of pups have dropped from 80 to 90 percent in the 1970s to less than 15 percent today.
As the older breeding females, such as RK06, die, there are fewer younger animals maturing, which SOS says could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the entire population.
In the long-term, let’s spread the word about the importance of protecting the Hawaiian monk seal and not let another species face obliteration on our watch.
In the short-term, let’s help state and federal authorities catch the perverse person who killed RK06 this week and whoever murdered the 4-year-old male seal last month so they can be brought to justice.
These nefarious nincompoops have earned time behind bars for their actions. As our humane society director has cautioned us in the past, people who senselessly slaughter innocent animals have a higher tendency to act violent against humans.
Let’s put these criminals away before they kill again or hurt another. Their behavior is inexcusable.
The long-time North Shore resident was a critical member of her community, investing tremendous energy in raising her children.
Known locally as ilio-holo-ikauaua (the dog that runs in rough waters), she enjoyed fishing and basking in the sun on secluded beaches.
Friends remember RK06 for her big black eyes and the soft folds of fur around her neck that resembled a monk’s cowl.
A misanthrope at heart, the solitary soul spent the vast majority of her life at sea. She could skin dive to depths of 500 feet for 20 minutes at a time, scouring coral reefs and sandy bottoms for fish, eels, octopus and lobsters.
Despite weighing 600 pounds, RK06 swam with grace in her sleek gray suit.
Although she would often receive star treatment when she stumbled upon more populated locales, humans greatly agitated her.
And so it was on a sunny May day on Kaua‘i that some senseless fool ended her life.
She was preceded in death by a 4-year-old male relative, who was apparently dealt the same fatal hand April 19 at a nearby beach.
This inhumane killing must stop before it’s too late.
The critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, the most endangered endemic marine mammal in the United States, deserves protection and those who impede this necessary and noble effort warrant harsh punishment.
With less than 1,200 of these seals left in the world, we should all be championing their comeback. These cruel acts that edge this special species toward extinction must not be allowed to stand.
Hawaiian monk seals, a treat to visitors and a treasure to residents, face enough human and environmental challenges as it is in their perilous fight to recover. From overfishing to habitat loss, shark predation to entanglement, the last thing these precious creatures should have to fear is a coward shooting them in the back while they sun themselves on the beach.
While other countries with healthy seal populations allow their citizens to kill for sport, such is not the case here. A distinct line must be drawn in the sand. These two seals here, like some others before them, were not destroyed for food or cultural practice.
Kaua‘i suffered a terrible loss, but we can still help by sharing useful information with investigators by calling 1-800-853-1964.
We can also participate in educational outreach activities, volunteer to raise funds for seal coordinators and urge our legislators to support seal recovery programs in the Hawaiian Islands.
The Save Our Seals program says every year we wait brings the Hawaiian monk seal closer to extinction. Survival rates of pups have dropped from 80 to 90 percent in the 1970s to less than 15 percent today.
As the older breeding females, such as RK06, die, there are fewer younger animals maturing, which SOS says could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the entire population.
In the long-term, let’s spread the word about the importance of protecting the Hawaiian monk seal and not let another species face obliteration on our watch.
In the short-term, let’s help state and federal authorities catch the perverse person who killed RK06 this week and whoever murdered the 4-year-old male seal last month so they can be brought to justice.
These nefarious nincompoops have earned time behind bars for their actions. As our humane society director has cautioned us in the past, people who senselessly slaughter innocent animals have a higher tendency to act violent against humans.
Let’s put these criminals away before they kill again or hurt another. Their behavior is inexcusable.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
djrugs wrote on May 26, 2009 11:09 AM:
" Please, if you have any information leading to the arrest of this killer call NOAA's hotline at 888-256-9840. Remember if you are afraid of retaliation, think how dangerous a situation you and your children are in with someone walking on the beaches with a gun shooting at innocent animals. How long before they take it out on people. This is so very serious with the loss of the two seals and a fetus. The people of Kauai need our help and support to find this souless being. "
omg watnow wrote on May 28, 2009 10:06 AM:
" First of all, please remember that the Seal in an invasive species. It's not from Hawaii so it does not make it Hawaiian or native. Harmless. . . yeh right. they're more unreported or unadvertised of seals attacking fishermans, humans on the beach or in the water because the federal government would blame the human for getting to close to the seal. Many hunters and fishermans would back me up and have a hunting season on the seals. They cause more problems then sharks. If a shark bits a person, it's okay to hunt that shark down or any large game sharks in the area. The sharks are native to the islands and we hunt and kill them, why? The seal is a pilau. Just wasted money on research on an animal that's invasive. Report invasive species 643-PEST- - snakes, koke frogs, illegal plants etc. The seal should be on that list. If an animal causes or to cause harm to a human should be shot!
REMEMBER, ALL THE TAX PAYERS MONEY ARE WASTED IN THIS PROGRAM. HAWAIIAN'S ARE NATIVE NOT THE SEAL!!!!!!!!!! "
REMEMBER, ALL THE TAX PAYERS MONEY ARE WASTED IN THIS PROGRAM. HAWAIIAN'S ARE NATIVE NOT THE SEAL!!!!!!!!!! "
JKDownDaMiddle wrote on Jun 4, 2009 9:45 AM:
" omg watnow,
I have to agree with you in part....but if we decide it's ok to hunt/shoot them....they as a species WILL vanish. That's not ok. On the other hand, I am in favor of lifting many of the crazy restrictions we have regarding the monk seals. Let's give them a sanctuary area or 2 and the seals will figure out that is 'their' place... The biologists and such can go study them to their hearts content!
Our tourist economy is in the toilet yet a few weeks ago I was down at Poipu beach w/my ohana...there were 4 seals at baby beach and the area was roped off leaving only a small area of beach near the lifeguard tower accessable to 'humans'. Hmmmm!?
On the other hand.....you said "REMEMBER, ALL THE TAX PAYERS MONEY ARE WASTED IN THIS PROGRAM. HAWAIIAN'S ARE NATIVE NOT THE SEAL!!!!!!!!!! " The money part I agree with...but, even the Hawaiian people are not "native" to these Islands. They to migrated as an invasive species to these very shores and proliferated freely. And isn't there still a debate as to there being a preexisting race of humans already here....which were wiped out by the 'Hawaiians'!? Human beings are argueably the planet Earth's most invasive species.
What to do watnow? What is 'pono' in this situation and according to who? To quote Rodney King.."can't we all get along?"...well no actually, that is not human nature. Our history proves this time and again.
Eh here you go...How about we let a Hawaiian Monk seal and a 'Native' Hawaiian human duke it out 'Mano a mano' -no weapons other that what you were born with, and the 1st one to cry foul is the looser and forever banished from the beach. ??? "
I have to agree with you in part....but if we decide it's ok to hunt/shoot them....they as a species WILL vanish. That's not ok. On the other hand, I am in favor of lifting many of the crazy restrictions we have regarding the monk seals. Let's give them a sanctuary area or 2 and the seals will figure out that is 'their' place... The biologists and such can go study them to their hearts content!
Our tourist economy is in the toilet yet a few weeks ago I was down at Poipu beach w/my ohana...there were 4 seals at baby beach and the area was roped off leaving only a small area of beach near the lifeguard tower accessable to 'humans'. Hmmmm!?
On the other hand.....you said "REMEMBER, ALL THE TAX PAYERS MONEY ARE WASTED IN THIS PROGRAM. HAWAIIAN'S ARE NATIVE NOT THE SEAL!!!!!!!!!! " The money part I agree with...but, even the Hawaiian people are not "native" to these Islands. They to migrated as an invasive species to these very shores and proliferated freely. And isn't there still a debate as to there being a preexisting race of humans already here....which were wiped out by the 'Hawaiians'!? Human beings are argueably the planet Earth's most invasive species.
What to do watnow? What is 'pono' in this situation and according to who? To quote Rodney King.."can't we all get along?"...well no actually, that is not human nature. Our history proves this time and again.
Eh here you go...How about we let a Hawaiian Monk seal and a 'Native' Hawaiian human duke it out 'Mano a mano' -no weapons other that what you were born with, and the 1st one to cry foul is the looser and forever banished from the beach. ??? "
kaika wrote on Jun 6, 2009 7:55 PM:
" To JKDown DaMiddle If you were from hawaii you would no theres no previous race before my people arrived here only menehune a part of our people,monk seal was never in main hawaiian islands,no such animal only native mamal the hawaiian bat.It is a waste to protect a animal no one eats,Its not hunted and never was by my people,show me the chant no more.The answer is simple put it where it belongs line islands 690 miles below us.no people no harrass it. Tax dollors then can be used to protect indangered hawaiians kanaka by blood from lands being stolen,graves dug up programs destroyed schools protected,ceeded lands ect also to help homeless local families.Plant hawaii was given by AKUA to my people and we never gave it up.Its still stolen by so called invasive species of humans who dont read the good book.Also a fact the carribian seal is not extinct its been found in florida also the crab eater seal which is form the above canada.Both species indangered so called.truth is not to many people in hawaii are from hawaii now and dont have a clue about native ecology........food for your mind. "
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jassbrown wrote on May 24, 2009 5:16 AM: