Found only in the Hawaiian islands, a Hawaiian Monk Seal shows off its shy side on a Maui beach. These friendly creatures can get into trouble by being too friendly with people, getting close to and even playing with some people in the water.
On shore, they tend to relax and enjoy all the attention as people surround them at a usually respectful distance.
It was recently discovered that these monk seals can dive down thousands of feet while hunting for food. Previously, it was thought that they could only dive a few hundred feet deep.
From the Photographer:
“The Hawaiian Monk seal is an endangered species of seal that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is estimated that only 1,100 remain. They are often seen soaking up the rays on the beaches of Maui just like me! :-)”
