Freshly molted juvenile Hawaiian monk seal. Hawaiian monk seals undergo a catastrophic molt once a year where they lose their fur and top layer of skin to a fresh silvery coat they'll wear until they molt again.

A Hawaiian monk seal green from algae growing on it's fur after a long period of foraging at sea.

Freshly molted juvenile Hawaiian monk seal. Hawaiian monk seals undergo a catastrophic molt once a year where they lose their fur and top layer of skin to a fresh silvery coat they'll wear until they molt again.

A Hawaiian monk seal green from algae growing on it's fur after a long period of foraging at sea.

Hawaiian monk seals hauled out in shallow water. On hot days, or after hours of resting further up on shore, Hawaiian monk seals will move to rest in shallow waters. With their heads dipped just under the surface of the water they will blow bubbles and lift their head up for a breath.

HMSRP camp at Pearl and Hermes. Population [human] three

Sunset from Southeast island. The sky and weather changed quickly and dramatically.

Juvenile HMS hauled out.

Interior of North @ Pearl and Hermes after the Black-footed and Laysan albatross have fledged.

A nursing pup and it's mom. HMS mothers will stay with and nurse their pup for about month. During the nursing period the mother will fast & lose a considerable amount of body mass.

View into the atoll from North island. Clouds reflect the turquoise water.

A newly weaned pup rests on shore. This is a critical time where seals learn to forage. This weaned pup is still fat from nursing but will lose a great deal of body mass in the coming months.

Little North @ Pearl and Hermes

This tiny pup prematurely weaned from it's mother. One reason a pup will prematurely wean is because it's mother did not have enough energy reserves to continue nursing her pup. The survival rate of prematurely weaned pups is greatly diminished.

Here a field biologist surveys a tiny sand spit. Some of the islands in the atoll are mere sand dunes barely sticking out of the water; a perfect place to haul out if you are a HMS