Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals
Introduction
Over the years, the number of Hawaiian monk seals has showcased a steadily decreasing trend. As of now, there are approximately 1,400Hawaiian monk seals despite the species having lived in the Hawaiian Islands of Archipelago, Hawai’i Island, and Kure Atoll for about 4-11 million years now. According to Milman (2018), the Hawaiian monk seals are currently facing a significant threat associated with an increased rate of poaching and fishing. The main reason for poaching the seal is the superstitious belief that they are associated with an omen of a good fortune. At the same time, the seals were stolen by individuals aiming at using the animals for illegal wildlife trafficking and trading and to obtain their soft fur for usage to manufacture clothing like boots and jackets. Also, the increase in the rate of pollution in the Hawaiian ocean water bodies has contributed to the reduction of food and increased diseases that affect the monk seals.
In this light, the increased rates of poaching and pollution have posed a significant threat of extinction to the Hawaiian monk seals. At the moment, the seals are set for a nearing destruction if the poaching behavior and uncontrolled pollution prolongs in the Hawaiian Islands and oceans. Thus, there is a need to engage in controlling poaching, corruption, and saving the species from extinction. Thesis statement: the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals have significantly decreased in population as compared to the past; thus, indicating the need to enforce measures to control poaching, reduce pollution in and out of the oceans, and engage in actively rescuing and also relocating the monk seals.
Controlling Poaching
The seals in The 1976 Act of US Endangered species were listed as endangered due to the reduction in population by 20 percent in-between the years 1976-2011. It is made sure to indicate that hunting monks was illegal. Poaching can be controlled by educating people on the effects of extinction as the monk acts as a health backbone of the islands coral reef ecosystem, hence its name ‘sentinel.’ Regulating the fishermen to only a few commercial bottom-line fishers is also a way to control poaching. Poaching can also be prevented by having institutions that guard the seals from poaching under massive legislation. Poaching significantly affects an ecosystem as they in a break in the food chain, which impounds danger to other animals living in the same ecosystem. Some animals depend on others for survival indirectly or directly as they are in the same habitat due to the coexistence theory. Eco-tourism disruption is also an effect of poaching, making the income got from tourists to reduce from expected numbers.
Reducing Pollution to Save the Monks
Pollution should be reduced to make the natural habitat of the monks to be conducive to living, bearing one as well as sustaining the young ones while they are very young. Pollution can be reduced by keeping the beaches clean, using environmentally friendly paints on the water transport apparatus such as ships and boats. Individuals could come into play by helping out in cleaning the beach as well as educate people on using recyclable things instead of plastics. Cleaning up the beaches could also be another useful tool to curb pollution. Constant monitoring of oil pipes that pass through the oceans also dramatically reduces the risk of contamination to the sea. When the sea and beaches are clean, monks can get saved from human causative endangerments.
Rescuing and Relocation of Monks
The pups of the monks suffer a lot by either hunted by sharks, poachers, or are separated from their mothers before they reach a point of self-survival. In addition to that, they predated by their adult male monks. In this case, they are relocated from shark hunting grounds as well as transferred away from the male monks to avoid predation. The female monks are also in danger and have to be relocated from the male monks to avoid predation. One key natural factor affecting the seal populations in the male-biased sex-ratio, which results in increased aggressive behaviors such as mobbing (Starfield,1995). In cases where fishermen hooks have injured the monks, they should be given medical attention and rehabilitated. Rescue missions should be done to help free trapped seals and take them back to a safe habitat to avoid such an incident again. Some seals are injured by other seals, predators as well as humans, in this incident there should be a frontline organization monitoring and helping the wounded monks to help them survive the injuries. Organizations should also put into place help in vaccinating the monks to avoid the outbreak of a morbillivirus that would harm the population to a great extent. Due to the curious nature of these seals, they often get caught up in floating debris, which could lead to death. In this scenario, individuals or organizations should come out and help free them from the trash.
Conclusion
The sentinel has got recognition on its endangerment, even though efforts have been put in place to help this stop, there is still a need to do more. This based on the fact that even after those measures into place, the population of the monks is again reducing. Positively, statistics also show that rules put in place have helped in saving 30% of the species that would have died if those measures put into place. Education on the benefits of these monks, as well as how to live with them, should go on impacted to help increase the percentage of those saved from this tragedy. The institutions should also help safeguard their natural habitat as this particular species cannot survive in other environments and as well upholds some historical significance to the environment.
Works Cited
Chiu, Allyson. “‘Make better choices’: Endangered Hawaiian monk seals keep getting eels stuck up their noses, and scientists want them to stop.” Boston News. 2018, https://www.boston.com/news/animals/2018/12/07/hawaiian-monk-seals-eels-noses. Accessed 6 May 2020.
Hawaii Marine Animal Response. “Why is the Hawaiian Monk Seal Endangered?” HMAR. 2017, http://h-mar.org/why-is-the-hawaiian-monk-seal-endangered/. Accessed 6 May 2020.
Milman, Oliver. “Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals Face New Challenge: Eels stuck up their Noses. The Guardian. 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/06/hawaiian-monk-seal-eel-stuck-up-nose-why. Accessed 6 May 2020.
Smithies, John. “Hawaiian Monk Seals Face New Threat: Getting Eels Stuck Up Their Noses.” The Epoch Times. 2018, https://www.theepochtimes.com/hawaiian-monk-seals-face-new-threat-getting-eels-stuck-up-their-noses_2732892.html. Accessed 6 May 2020.