Hawaiian Monk Seal, Monachus schauinslandi

Of all the animals that make their way out to these isolated islands of Hawaii none may be more surprising than the monk seal. Only three types of monk seals are known, the Hawaiian, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean. It is the only seal native to Hawaii and one of only two endemic species of mammals here. It is also critically endangered. Only about 1,800 of these seals are still alive, with most habituating the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Conservation is of extreme importance for these seals as we have already witnessed the extinction of the Caribbean monk seal.
  Human encroachment, disease, past hunting for skins, and a genetic bottleneck are all against these playful animals. I rarely get to see one here in Maui. In fact it's so rare that when we spot one there is a special hotline to call to report the sighting so volunteers can rush out and make sure the animal is not disturbed.  The monk seal in the picture however was making that very hard as she spent the morning in Lahaina harbor. I watched for a while as she bumped against the dinghies and played with various lines dangling in the water. Hopefully we will be able to see these monk seals for all generations to come.