Throughout my life I've always heard that by the time I am in my 40s (about 26 years from now) the Hawaiian monk seal will be an extinct animal. I was always told this in such a casual way, like no one cared if the seals went extinct.
I am an animal lover and it troubles me that no one cares. Reading "Fishermen urged to report hooked seals" (The Maui News, Nov. 11) made me have some hope for the upcoming years.
I am glad someone is taking action, and I'm even happier that it is the government. I'm hoping that we can at least sustain the population of the monk seals.
I know there are a few spots where the seals like to lounge about, and I think we should close these areas from the public completely. Doing that, the seals could have a promising place to rest.
Also, we should have a frequent watch for the monk seals, and if they are anywhere in range to a human-populated area we should keep them safe and evacuate that beach.
Those are just a few ideas I came up with.
Maybe, if we can keep this up, we can change the direction of our destined path.
I'd like to thank everyone and anyone defending the Hawaiian monk seal or any other animal, endangered or not.
Victoria Albiar-Kunishi
Pukalani
