The Roller Coaster Ride of the Hawaiian Monk Seal

摘要

After five days of ocean sailing, the white coral sand beach of Laysan Island looked like Eden in an azure sea. It was 1982, and I was part of a team of filmmakers documenting the recovery efforts of the Hawaiian monk seal. So I was thrilled when, on landing, I immediately spotted a monk seal snoozing at the far end of the beach. Focusing my binoculars, nothing prepared me for the sight: the better part of her back was missing, torn to the bone.