50 feet.
Hawaiian monk seals Photo: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/Lesley Macpherson Recommended viewing distance: At least 50 feet (15 meters) away—on land and in water. Stay behind any signs or barriers.
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How far away should you be from a monk seal?
According to NOAA guidelines, people should view monk seals from a distance of 50 feet. In Hawaii, residents are fierce protectors of their island and its resources, said Hawaiian monk seal researcher Mark Sullivan, who wanted to remind people that “others are watching.”
Can you touch a monk seal?
Under state and federal laws, it’s a felony to touch or harass a Hawaiian monk seal. Penalties can include up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Authorities warn people must remain at least 50 feet (15 meters) away from the animals or 150 feet (45 meters) away from pups with their mothers.
Is it illegal to touch a Hawaiian monk seal?
Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, making it illegal to touch, harass, injure or kill the animals. Officials said harassing the monk seals is a Class C felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
What happens if you touch a Hawaiian monk seal?
It’s a felony to touch or harass a Hawaiian monk seal under state and federal laws, with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine. The newspaper reported that authorities from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contacted the couple over the weekend and assessed an undisclosed fine.
How many Hawaiian monk seals are left 2020?
Only about 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals are left in the world and their population is about one-third of historic levels. With numbers that small, the life of every seal can be measured in its impact on the population growth or decline.
Do monk seals eat plants?
Monk seals are primarily “benthic” foragers (bottom feeders), eating a variety of prey including fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Their diet varies by location, sex, and age.
Can you pet a monk seal?
Don’t Touch the Monk Seals.
Why do monk seals beach themselves?
Hawaiian monk seals naturally spend about a third of their time resting and sleeping on shore. They are not “lazy,” but conserve energy between their hunting and foraging trips.
What is the fine for touching a monk seal?
Under state and federal laws, it’s a felony to touch or harass a Hawaiian monk seal. Penalties can include up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Authorities warn people must remain at least 50 feet (15 meters) away from the animals or 150 feet (45 meters) away from pups with their mothers.
Is it illegal to touch sea life in Hawaii?
It is not illegal for an animal to approach you, but it is against the law to approach, chase, surround, touch or swim with marine mammals, including dolphins. If approached by a marine mammal or turtle, put the engine in neutral and allow the animal to pass.
Why can’t you touch a monk seal in Hawaii?
David Ige warns visitors who touch Hawaiian monk seals ‘will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law’ A Hawaiian monk seal sleeps at Kaimana Beach on Sept. 29. It is considered a class C felony to touch, harass, capture, injure or kill monk seals.
Why is the Hawaiian monk seal special?
The Hawaiian monk seal is unique in that they live in a tropical climate. Most seals prefer frigid water. Hawaiian monk seals do not have external ears and they cannot rotate their hind flippers underneath their bodies.
How big are Hawaiian monk seals?
7 to 7.5 feet
Hawaiian monk seals are 7 to 7.5 feet (2.1 to 2.2 meters) in length, with females larger than males. Pups weigh only 25 to 35 pounds (11 to 16 kilograms) when born, but grow up into 400- to 600-pound (180- to 270-kilogram) adults.
Are monk seals mean?
Fact: Most monk seals are not aggressive toward people, unless they feel threatened (such as when a person gets between a mother seal and her pup).
What is the fine for touching a sea turtle in Hawaii?
$1,000 to $10,500
What is the fine for touching sea turtles in Hawaii? The fine for harassing or touching a sea turtle in Hawaii runs $1,000 to $10,500. The crime needs to be reported to the police for action to be taken.
What is the biggest predator in Hawaii?
Great white shark
While far less common than tiger sharks, great whites have been seen off Hawaii’s shores. These legendary animals are the largest predatory fish on Earth – and definitely the most fearsome. They grow to an average of 15 feet in length, though some exceed 20 feet and weigh up to 5,000 pounds.
Is the Hawaiian Monk Seal Extinct?
Not extinct
How rare are Hawaiian monk seals?
With an estimated population of 1,200, the Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, and the rarest seal in US waters.
Where do monk seals breed?
However, the majority of Hawaiian monk seals live in six main breeding subpopulations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands at Kure Atoll, Midway Islands, Pearl and Hermes Reef, Lisianski Island, Laysan Island and French Frigate Shoals.
What are monk seals predators?
Tiger sharks often prey upon Hawaiian monk seals as evidenced by shark bite wounds present on many monk seals. Other shark predators include gray reef and white-tipped reef sharks.
