AUGUST 2010  ~ 

(Photo by B. Richter, NMFS Permit No. 932-1905)

Hō‘ailona continues to thrive in every area. 

1. •He continues to grow in mass, putting on several more kilograms of weight
   

2. •He continues to grow in length and girth
   

3. •His repertoire of behaviors continues to increase
   

4. •And his personality continues to shine through more and more
   

Some of newest behaviors Hō‘ailona’s is working on completing are:

1. •Performing a full body exam in the water
   

2. •Allowing his trainers to obtain a voluntary blood sample to make sure he is in excellent health
   

3. •Retrieving various objects from both the water surface and the pool bottom
   

4. •Extensions of all his behaviors with some of the longest extensions reaching 15 minutes!

Hō‘ailona is also beginning the training aspects of his next research adventure.  Similar to how his energy requirements were measured while he was resting in the water, he is learning how to participate in having his energy requirements measured while resting in the sand.  This will begin to show us how much energy Hawaiian monk seals require when they are resting on the beach and how this fits into their overall daily energy budget.

Hō‘ailona’s daily life continues to be filled with various types of enrichment and ways for him to interact with people and his environment.  He is continually observed engaging with his toys, following people around, and relaxing either in the sun or his sandbox.  Everyone continues to be very excited about what we are learning and how it will aid in the conservation of all Hawaiian monk seals.

Hō‘ailona is being asked to lie down while he has his girth measurement taken.  Hō‘ailona is now an expert at having his girth and lengths taken on a weekly basis.

(NMFS Permit No. 932-1905)

(NMFS Permit No. 932-1905)

(NMFS Permit No. 932-1905)

Hō‘ailona being observed interacting with his new enrichment item.  He is always a very curious animal.

Hō‘ailona asleep in his sandbox.

(NMFS Permit No. 932-1905)

Hō‘ailona is learning how to retrieve objects from his pool.  He is a very quick learner.

February 2010

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

September 2010

October 2010

November 2010

January 2011

April 2011