Seal hitches ride on Dolphin
A major operation involving the US Coast Guard (USCG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration took place in April – transporting ‘R1KU’, an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, from Kauai to Oahu, Hawaii, and back again.
A major operation involving the US Coast Guard (USCG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration took place in April – transporting ‘R1KU’, an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, from Kauai to Oahu, Hawaii, and back again. This particular breed of seal is one of the world’s rarest marine mammals – the estimated global population is 1,200. A member of the ‘true seal’ family, the animal is from one of only two remaining species of monk seal.
The first mission involved a C-130 plane from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point flying the ill seal to Oahu in order for specialist medical staff to treat a life-threatening eye infection. The seal then needed to be taken back, with an H-65 Dolphin helicopter providing the return flight.
“We were able to land within yards of the rehab centre, eliminating the one-hour land transport from the facility to our air station and the additional stress placed on the animal,” commented Eric Roberts, marine mammal response co-ordinator for the 14th Coast Guard District. Safeguarding marine mammals is one of the 11 statutory missions mandated for the Coast Guard.
A video of the operation can be viewed below: