buffettgirl
The whole tag thing, so 1990's internet.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2008
So yesterday I was at the paradise cove lagoon and a young monk seal came into the lagoon. These are endangered and protected creatures. There are signs posted everywhere warning of the seals. By law, you're suppose to move out of their way and give them room. Volunteers were trying to make sure the seal had plenty of room to come on shore, only to be constantly thwarted by guests who continued to get too close and block the seal's way. Eventually the seal left the lagoon which is too bad. N14 was the seal , he comes from Moloka'i and is a young male seal. He likes to hang out at the lagoon with an older male seal, Benny. Without being allowed to come on HIS beach when HE wants he will eventually leave our lagoon and go somewhere else.
Also, there were quite a number of sea turtles in the lagoon as well. These also are highly protected creatures here and it is against the law to 'harass' them in any way - that includes crowding them, following them to get photos, chasing them, and touching them. Recently there have been a lot of bites from turtles. If a turtle bites you, you are too close. You're supposed to give them at least 10 feet, but if they are moving, it's just best to get out of their way. I witnessed a large crowd continually follow one turtle for quite a long time - even after volunteers had told them to give the turtle free access. One of these turtles "scuba" is a 3 flippered guy.
Guys, these are wild animals who make their home here in Hawaii. This isn't a pet and touch aquarium. They may look cute and docile, but they are wild animals and they will harm you. Further, all the behavior I witnessed yesterday was against the law, and if the volunteers had chosen to, they could have called the police. They had plenty of photos documenting the interactions. It's probably only due to their goodness that they didn't call the police.
So if you choose to go over to the paradise cove lagoon, take your quick photo and then GET OUT of the water when you see wild animals. Sit quietly on the shore, and you might be surprised at what the animals due next. Do not continue to crowd the turtles, do not continue to chase the seals down and back on the shore. Listen to the volunteers who are at every beach and comply with what they are asking. Everyone there missed the opportunity to see a beautiful monk seal come on shore to sun himself. They probably missed the opportunity to see his buddy come into the lagoon to hang out as well.
http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_good_neighbors.html
Also, there were quite a number of sea turtles in the lagoon as well. These also are highly protected creatures here and it is against the law to 'harass' them in any way - that includes crowding them, following them to get photos, chasing them, and touching them. Recently there have been a lot of bites from turtles. If a turtle bites you, you are too close. You're supposed to give them at least 10 feet, but if they are moving, it's just best to get out of their way. I witnessed a large crowd continually follow one turtle for quite a long time - even after volunteers had told them to give the turtle free access. One of these turtles "scuba" is a 3 flippered guy.
Guys, these are wild animals who make their home here in Hawaii. This isn't a pet and touch aquarium. They may look cute and docile, but they are wild animals and they will harm you. Further, all the behavior I witnessed yesterday was against the law, and if the volunteers had chosen to, they could have called the police. They had plenty of photos documenting the interactions. It's probably only due to their goodness that they didn't call the police.
So if you choose to go over to the paradise cove lagoon, take your quick photo and then GET OUT of the water when you see wild animals. Sit quietly on the shore, and you might be surprised at what the animals due next. Do not continue to crowd the turtles, do not continue to chase the seals down and back on the shore. Listen to the volunteers who are at every beach and comply with what they are asking. Everyone there missed the opportunity to see a beautiful monk seal come on shore to sun himself. They probably missed the opportunity to see his buddy come into the lagoon to hang out as well.
http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_good_neighbors.html