Do Not Approach by annk
A sign used when monk seals are in the area. Nowadays the area in which a monk seal is beached is not only temporarily fenced off with caution tape, but is patrolled especially in high population areas. It is common for the seals to beach themselves on the sand in the morning & returning to the ocean in the late afternoon.While at Poipu Beach about 5 years ago someone was strolling the beach and walked into the seals territory while not paying attention. The seal tried to attack the walking man and proceeded to chase and bark at him. For us onlookers it was a funny sight as the startled man quickly moved away. The seals can move quicker than you'd imagine.
It is illegal to harass, capture or kill a monk seal.
Their declining populations are due to:
- The rapid spread of human acitivity in the islands
- Death by sharks
- Lower pup survival caused by human interference
- entanglement in fishing nets and debris
