Press Watch, The Garden Island, December 27, 2009
K12 is mother of seal slain in separate incident
LIHU‘E — “Maha‘ulepu Mama” is no Hawaiian monk seal to mess with.
She takes her role in perpetuating the endangered species very seriously, and woe to the woman or man who comes too close to her newborn.
Scientifically known as K12, she has given birth to at least four pups at Maha‘ulepu Beach on the South Shore. The most recent, PK4 (sex unknown at present), was earlier this month.
Authorities are continuing to investigate an encounter Monday that involved K12 taking a few bites out of Rebecca Wahlman, 28, of Kirkland, Wash.
Wahlman spent Monday night at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where she received treatment for superficial wounds, according to a county press release. She was released on Tuesday, according to a hospital spokesperson. […]