NOAA researchers have released a video compilation depicting the foraging movements of the Hawaiian monk seal code-named RO18, equipped with a mobile phone tag.
“This is a video of an adult male monk seal that NOAA researchers tracked using a cellphone tag,” writes NOAA scientist Charles Littnan. “The tag recorded dive behavior and fine scale movements of the seal. RO18 was tracked from June to the middle of December. RO18 spent most of him time on Kauai and Ni’ihau, but did have one brief excursion to Oahu. RO18 spent most of his time diving deeper than 150 meters (over 500 ft) and his maximum dive was 511 meters. For more information please contact charles.littnan@noaa.gov.”
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