The Odyssey of KP2

  Kaneohe, Hawaii, 34–38, 69, 89, 109, 120–21, 125, 137, 141–42, 225, 233

  Kauai Island, Hawaii, 5, 11, 25, 31, 44, 96, 103, 110, 167–68, 233, 265

  Kauai Monk Seal Team, 8–9, 265

  Kaumalapau Harbor, 44

  Kaunakakai town/wharf (Molokai, HI), 44–51, 57–58, 68, 107, 126, 143, 154, 167–68, 177, 226, 244–46

  Ka‘upu, Kahu David, 67–68

  Kendall, Cynthia, 227–31

  Kendall, Traci, 65, 112, 177, 264

  and KP2’s pool/enclosure, 102–3, 190–91

  and KP2’s return to Hawaii, 209, 258, 260

  and metabolic experiments, 152–57, 160

  moves KP2 to lab, 72, 76, 78–81, 83–84

  position at Long Marine Lab, 15–16, 26–27, 108, 124

  skills of, 15, 27, 78–79, 90–91

  studies KP2, 254–55

  trains KP2, 94–96, 107–9, 115–17, 125–26, 128, 136–37, 139–40, 173, 180–86, 227–28

  trains sea otters, 123, 136–37

  and Weddell seals, 15–18

  Kewalo Basin (Hawaii), 45

  Kewalo Research Facility (Hawaii), 28, 34, 94, 126, 156, 193

  KP2

  abandonment of, 10–11, 38, 96, 167, 200, 206–7, 230

  attacked by male seal, 6–8, 10–11, 207

  becomes an adult, 59, 135–36

  behavior of, 34, 105, 113–15, 141–44, 156, 160, 184–85, 191–92

  birth/first days of, 5–11, 37, 60, 96, 103, 110, 198, 200, 207, 229

  blood samples taken from, 112–17

  celebrity of, 25–26, 48–49, 51, 58–59, 88–92, 96, 175, 178–79

  communicates with scientist, 203–5

  costs relating to, 189, 193–95, 197–98

  curiosity of, 242, 250

  description of, 30, 37, 47, 76, 96, 98–99, 104, 106–7, 135, 181, 259

  early life with humans, 27–31, 40–43, 50, 59–61, 67, 193, 211, 228

  eating habits of, 38–39, 47, 96–98, 115–17, 135, 139–40, 142, 154, 171

  fat layer of, 37, 105, 172–73, 180

  final return to Hawaii, 250–53, 257–60, 264–66

  and Hawaiian blessings, 67–69, 178, 259–60

  Hawaiian name of, 61, 85, 178, 187, 205, 239, 251

  hunts for fish, 38–42, 44, 96, 109, 125, 141, 225–26, 254

  importance of, 40, 88, 95, 131, 187, 254, 264

  independence of, 41

  intelligence of, 39, 115, 140, 142–44, 253–54

  and metabolic experiments, 136, 144, 151–63, 165, 171, 180, 190, 254

  movements tracked, 43–44, 76

  names of, 25, 72, 85, 120, 178

  navigation skills of, 47, 49, 141–42

  need for human company, 107–9, 136–37, 140, 152, 159, 184, 190, 193, 258

  as ocean ambassador, 178, 205, 239, 241–42, 247–51, 253, 260–61, 264–66

  and other seals, 44, 183

  poor eyesight of, 34, 37, 41–42, 60, 68–69, 106–7, 113, 130–31, 140–43, 173, 203, 225–31

  quarantined, 93–95, 101, 106, 112, 115, 120

  refuses to eat, 96–99, 106, 108–9, 180–81, 183–84, 259

  rehabilitation of, 26, 28–31, 34, 37, 42, 46, 50, 156

  release into wild, 30–31, 34, 41–44, 46, 49–50, 60, 225–26, 229–30, 253

  rescue of, 25, 44, 95, 167, 174–75, 177

  sensory cues of, 106–7, 109, 113, 140–42, 226, 231

  study of, 56–57, 60, 88, 104–6, 126, 131–32, 135, 172–73, 178, 249, 254–55

  swimming of, 31, 37–39, 41, 126

  teenage behavior of, 181–86

  and toys/games, 104–6, 125–26, 131–32, 135, 141, 143, 242, 244, 258

  trainers of, 103–4, 108–9

  training of, 136–37, 139–44, 152–53, 156–58, 180, 185, 204, 253

  uniqueness of, 38–40, 261

  vocalizations of, 55–56, 81–82, 181, 183, 204

  Web site of, 241 (See also Facebook)

  weighing of, 47, 96–99, 253

  See also RK22 (KP2’s mother)

  kuleana, 260–61

  Lagoon MINEX 2009, 70

  Lanai Island, Hawaii, 44, 167, 257

  LeBoeuf, Burney, 182

  Levine, Gregg, 28, 115

  Littnan, Charles, 168–69, 172

  Long Marine Lab, University of California (Santa Cruz)

  animals in, 77, 93–94, 121–24, 128, 140, 144, 180, 182, 194, 258

  and budget cuts, 193–95

  and expense of housing KP2, 189, 193–95, 197

  and fundraising, 194, 197–98, 205–6, 243, 264

  and Hawaiians, 250

  KP2 moved to, 51–54, 56–57, 60–61, 69, 71–73, 75–85, 89, 92, 210

  KP2’s pool/enclosure in, 84–85, 102–4, 106–9, 120, 124–26, 130–32, 190–93, 195, 230–31

  and KP2’s poor eyesight, 225–28

  purpose/studies of, 88, 93

  trainers of, 15–16, 21, 26–27, 95

  See also trainers’ names

  Lono (Molokai musician), 187, 248

  Los Angeles, 75, 77, 80, 82

  “Mac and KP2” video, 48–49

  Madani, Laurie, 245

  Maka‘iwi (monk seal), 186–87

  Maka‘onaona (seal), 264

  Marine Mammal Commission, 51, 69, 194

  Marine Mammal Program, 70

  marine mammals

  abandonment of, 22

  ancestors of, 213–14

  eating habits of, 98, 137, 172

  and fat layer, 163, 172–73, 175

  independence of, 29

  instincts of, 140, 150

  intelligence of, 35, 145–46, 154

  intestines of, 162–63

  as manifestations of nature, 179

  man’s relationship with, 217

  migration of, 21, 161

  and nutrient transfer, 221–22

  rehabilitation of, 77, 122

  released into the wild, 122–23

  saving of, 88–89

  stranding of, 9–10, 26, 78, 161, 170, 179, 211

  streamlined bodies of, 37

  study of, 22–24, 51–53, 87–88, 91, 93, 123–24, 157

  transport of, 69–72, 77, 82–83, 95

  vocalizations of, 155, 181–83, 204

  weighing of, 97–98

  See also trainers

  marine reserves, 168–69, 219–20, 254. See also Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument

  Maui Island, Hawaii, 167, 171, 238–39, 257

  McCaughan, Sri, 243–44

  McChord 446th Airlift Wing division, 70–72

  McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, 14, 20

  McMurdo Station, Antarctica, 13–16, 20–21, 25, 33, 53–54

  media, the, 25–26, 48–49, 58–59, 88–89, 91–92, 94, 96, 126, 175, 177–79, 186–87, 249. See also specific newspapers, TV stations

  Mediterranean monk seal, 212–19, 222, 254

  Mediterranean Sea, 214–16, 218

  Mehana (Hawaiian chanter), 205–6

  metabolic experiments, 136, 144, 151–60, 165, 171, 180, 190, 254

  Midazolam, 115–17

  Middle East Technical University, 218

  Molokai Community Service Council, 251

  Molokai Dispatch, 173–74, 177–78

  Molokai Island, Hawaii, 46, 92–93, 96, 171, 257

  and beach cleanup, 244–47

  children of, 45, 47–49, 58, 61, 68–69, 126, 178, 246, 252–53

  home to KP2, 42–51, 53, 76, 98

/>   home to monk seals, 43–44, 167

  KP2 removed from, 57–61, 63, 67–69, 107

  and KP2’s Facebook page, 177–78, 211

  KP2’s return to, 177, 186–87, 189–90, 239, 244–45, 259–60

  and protests over KP2, 25, 50–51, 58–59

  monk seals

  ancient lineage of, 212–18, 223

  and body heat, 105–6

  monk seals (cont.)

  caloric needs of, 136, 144, 152, 158, 161, 165, 167, 171, 173

  and competition for food, 169–70, 213

  curiosity of, 125, 238, 242

  eating habits of, 161, 199, 254

  eyes of, 228–29

  fat layer of, 105–6, 180, 199

  and fatherhood, 28–29

  as “fish farmers,” 222–23, 225

  fragile population of, 48, 53, 78, 127–28, 130–31, 206–7, 216, 238, 263

  growth/development of, 135–36, 144, 167, 171, 180, 254

  and humans in Hawaii, 249

  hunting/exploitation of, 78, 215–17, 220

  independence of, 29, 42, 140

  instincts of, 144

  killing of, 51, 175–76, 212

  and male aggression, 6–7, 56, 207, 265

  as manifestations of nature, 179

  and marine pollution, 238–39, 242–44

  milestones of, 30

  naming of, 29, 215

  opposition to, 165, 167–68, 170–72, 174, 212, 251–52

  rehabilitation of, 42

  saving of, 23, 95, 126, 128, 131–32, 139, 203–5, 211

  sex ratio of, 206–7

  shallow-water hunting of, 229

  stranding of, 170

  study of, 22–24, 52, 56–57, 104, 126, 131, 135–37, 158–61, 264

  survival of, 11, 23, 48, 78, 151–52, 159–61, 163, 166, 208, 216, 250, 256

  territory of, 21–22

  translocation of, 251–52, 264

  transport of, 95

  unique attributes of, 144, 152, 161–63, 199–200, 217–19, 223, 229

  vocalization of, 181

  and warm waters, 152, 158, 160–61, 163, 173, 213–14, 226, 254

  See also Mediterranean monk seal

  Monterey Bay, 125, 136, 176, 243, 246–47

  Monterey Bay Aquarium, 77, 122–23

  Moore, Nate, 124, 190–92

  Morgan (sea otter), 77, 122–23, 136–37, 153, 194, 264

  motherhood, of monk seals, 5–11, 28–29, 31, 43, 98, 160, 167–68, 198–200, 206–8, 229–30, 265–66

  Mount Madonna School (Watsonville, CA), 243–46, 248

  Multimix milk supplement, 29–30

  Naki, Leimana, 168

  National Geographic Crittercam, 169

  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 5, 155

  Caribbean monk seal and, 126–27

  KP2 and, 22, 27, 46–50, 67, 88, 91, 130–31, 179, 184

  and KP2’s return to Hawaii, 190, 206, 210–11, 244–45, 259

  and monk seals, 52, 171, 221, 249, 252, 264

  offices of, 9–10, 22, 179

  relocates KP2 to mainland, 50–52, 71–72

  and studies of KP2, 43–44, 76

  National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Regional Office (NMFS-PIRO), 9–10, 44

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 8–9, 46–51, 58–59, 67–68, 71, 126–27, 131, 168, 179, 186, 251–52

  National Science Foundation, 14

  Nature, 149

  Naval Air Station North Island (Coronado, CA), 72

  New Caledonia, 69–71

  Niihau Island, Hawaii, 220–21, 264

  Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, 167–70, 206, 225, 231–32, 251–52, 263–64

  Nuka‘au (monk seal), 56, 60, 253

  Oahu Island, Hawaii, 138, 190, 206

  and beach cleanup, 245

  and blessing of KP2, 67–68

  and dolphins, 21, 35–36, 119

  home to monk seals, 167, 171, 186, 211

  and KP2, 11, 28, 34, 47, 57–58, 70, 253, 259

  and marine mammal stranding, 9

  and protests over KP2, 25

  See also Sea Life Park; Waikiki Aquarium

  oceanic

  exploitation, 215

  noise, 93, 124, 155, 178

  politics, 9, 23, 52

  preservation, 261

  resources, 165, 219

  temperatures, 160–61, 213

  Office of Protected Resources (OPR), 22–23, 50, 52, 91

  Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), 10, 28, 168

  Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, 168–69

  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), 62

  phytoplankton, 221–22

  pinnipeds, 6–7, 23, 52, 76, 89, 102, 106, 126, 152, 159, 216

  plastics, 238–39, 241–43, 246–48, 252

  pollution

  and big mammals, 87–88

  and KP2’s Facebook page, 178, 241

  and marine mammals, 231–33, 237–39, 248, 263–64

  and monk seals, 78, 127, 242–44, 248

  and sea otters, 243–44

  and Worldwide Waste Reduction Day, 244–48

  See also beach cleanup

  Polynesians, 214–15

  predators, 38, 169–70, 174, 213–15, 229

  Primo and Puka (dolphins), 35–36, 77, 114, 121–22, 146–50, 153, 173, 183, 185, 194, 204, 233, 258

  Proceedings of the Royal Society, 222

  Richter, Beau, 57–58, 65, 95, 107–8, 264

  forges bond with KP2, 137, 159, 253

  on KP2’s early life, 25, 33–34

  and KP2’s pool/enclosure, 102, 124–25, 190–92

  and KP2’s return to Hawaii, 258, 260

  and metabolic experiments, 153–60

  moves KP2 to lab, 67, 72, 75–76, 79–80, 83–84

  and owl monkeys, 97–98

  position at Long Marine Lab, 15, 21, 26, 124

  skills of, 26–27, 97–98, 156

  studies KP2, 249, 254–55

  trains dolphins, 119, 145

  trains KP2, 94, 96–98, 113–16, 119–20, 136–37, 139–44, 156, 173, 180–81, 227

  and Weddell seals, 15–21

  Ritte, Loretta, 249–52

  Ritte, Walter, 51, 58–59, 68–69, 85, 173–74, 189–90, 248–52

  RK06 (female monk seal), 168

  RK22 (KP2’s mother), 5–11, 28, 109–10, 167, 198, 206–8, 230, 265–66

  Robinson, Keith, 220–21, 264

  Ross Island, Antarctica, 21

  San Diego, California, 69, 75, 128

  Santa Cruz, California, 24, 72, 77–79, 84–85, 88, 101–2, 105, 115, 117, 120, 126, 178, 190, 239, 243–47, 264. See also Long Marine Lab, University of California; University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC)

  Save Our Shores (Monterey Bay, CA), 246

  Schofield, David, 9–11, 44, 49, 59–60, 67–68, 179, 244–45, 259

  Schwarzenegger, Arnold, 193

  science, 56, 60, 69, 177

  and animal antics, 137

  “big mammal,” 87–88

  and KP2, 139–40, 143–44, 150, 152–53

  scientists, 43–44, 89, 131, 168–71, 177–78

  Sea Life Park (Oahu, HI), 50–51, 189–90, 211

  sea lions, 6, 22, 82, 157, 230

  body heat of, 106

  killing of, 175–76

  at Long Marine Lab, 93–94

  and marine pollution, 232, 238–39

  rehabilitation
of, 42

  stranding of, 26, 175

  study of, 52, 113

  training of, 76, 204

  sea otters, 7, 63, 82

  and Exxon Valdez oil spill, 53, 232–33, 242

  intelligence of, 39, 145

  at Long Marine Lab, 77, 87–88, 93–94, 112, 122–24, 140, 258

  and marine pollution, 243–44

  study of, 87–88, 124, 243

  training of, 26, 76, 79, 123, 136–37, 153

  seals, 9, 230

  Antarctic, 5, 102

  Arctic hooded, 198

  Baikal, 198

  elephant, 26, 93, 113, 182–83

  fur, 129–30, 239

  harbor, 26, 29, 48, 93, 105, 113, 123, 163, 247

  harp, 129–30

  hunting of/exploitation of, 129–30, 215–17

  intelligence of, 145

  mating calls of, 182–83

  and nutrient transfer, 221

  phocid, 6, 38, 107, 113, 152, 183, 198–99, 204

  stranding of, 26, 179

  study of, 39, 52, 87, 93–94, 104, 126

  tropical, 152, 158, 173

  See also monk seals; Weddell seals

  SeaWorld, 51, 125, 128–29, 230

  Shackleton, Ernest, 15

  Shaquille O’Seal, 13–19

  sharks, 127, 169–70, 174, 207, 213–14, 220–22, 239

  Shouka (killer whale), 154–55

  Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA), 154

  Skidmore, Jennifer, 22, 25, 33, 50, 52–53, 69, 92, 210–11, 225

  Skrovan, Randolph, 102–3

  Sloan, Amy, 52–53, 69, 91–92, 206, 210–11, 225

  squid, 229, 234, 237–38

  Survival Physiology, 56

  Tethys Sea, 212–14

  Todd, Frank, 128–29

  Toth, Ingrid, 50–51, 143

  trainers, 15, 21, 26–27, 76, 78–79, 89–91, 96, 103–5, 114, 136–37, 155–57, 173. See also specific names

  trust (hilina‘i), 137, 253, 258, 264

  Turkey, 212, 217–19

  ultrasound technology, 172–73

  ulua fish (jacks), 169–70

  Underwater Research Society’s Mediterranean Seal Research Group, 218

  University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), 15, 21, 27, 84–85, 111–12, 175, 178–79, 182, 193–95, 264. See also Long Marine Lab, University of California

  University of Hawaii, 97, 190

  U.S. Coast Guard, 11, 39, 42–43, 57, 102, 120, 257, 259

  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 72

  U.S. government, 43, 57. See also specific agencies

  U.S. Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), 34–39