LIHU‘E — Two nonprofit organizations and an anonymous donor have teamed up to offer a reward of up to $30,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the suspected slayings of at least three Hawaiian monk seals in the past two months.
The seals are an endangered species endemic to Hawai‘i and protected by the federal Endangered Species Act.
Three monk seals were found dead on Molokai recently, one in late November and two in December. A fourth seal was found dead on Kaua‘i Jan. 3. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced three seals, including the one on Kaua‘i, died under suspicious circumstances. The death of the last seal found on Molokai is still being investigated.
Michele Bane, Kaua‘i Marine Mammal Response Program Coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the seal found dead on Kaua‘i’s northeast coast was a juvenile male, about 2 to 3 years old and weighed approximately 200 pounds.
“The seal was untagged, and we believe it to be a seal that volunteers have observed before,” said Bane, adding that NOAA, DLNR staff and DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement responded on the scene.
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement was engaged immediately, she said, and is investigating this case.
“The necropsy was conducted on the morning of Jan. 4, and revealed that this was a suspicious death,” Bane said. “We cannot rule out foul play in this case.”
DLNR and NOAA have not explained what they have meant by “suspicious circumstances.” An Associated Press article last week stated the Molokai seals were found “bludgeoned to death.”
“I really can’t confirm that. That would compromise the investigation,” Bane said Wednesday.
The reward was established with a pledge of $2,500 per seal from the Humane Society of the U.S. and another $2,500 per seal collectively pledged by the Conservation Council of Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i Center for Biological Diversity and the Marine Conservation Institute. An anonymous donor offered to match the rewards, bringing the total available reward to $30,000, or $10,000 per seal, according to a joint press release by DLNR and the nonprofit organizations Wednesday.
“We thank The HSUS for their sponsorship of this new program to help protect Hawaii’s precious wildlife,” chief at DLNR DOCARE chief Randy Awo said in the release. “Our hope is that the reward program will deter future wildlife crimes and also encourage the community to become more involved in protecting our environment and reporting wildlife offenses.”
“We are pleased to support the critical work of DOCARE by funding a reward program and tip line for information on illegal wildlife-related offenses,” HSUS Hawai‘i director Inga Gibson said in the release Wednesday. “We must be a voice for these innocent animal victims and encourage anyone with information to please call the confidential tip line.”
Of an estimated 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals left in the world, about 1,000 can be found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Kaua‘i Monk Seal Watch Program project coordinator Tim Robinson said last week that Kaua‘i is home to 40 to 45 monk seals.
Under state law, harassing or killing a monk seal is a Class C felony that can result in up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. Monk seals also are protected under federal law, which makes it a crime to kill or hurt a Hawaiian monk seal.
The Humane Society and Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust also are sponsoring a toll-free, confidential reward tip line at 1-855-DLNR-TIP (1-855-365-7847) to support the work of the DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement.
Bane said anyone having information related to the deaths can also call the NOAA hotline at 1-800-8531964.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
