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Protect Habitat for Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals

Target: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Sponsored by: Care2.com

The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. Its population has plummeted to about 1,200 animals, and scientists say it will likely drop below 1,000 seals within a few years.

But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been resistant to protecting critical habitat. Three-quarters of the islands designated for Hawaiian monk seal habitat could be underwater before the end of the century thanks to global warming. Less than 50 years ago, one of the seals' chief breeding and resting places covered more than 110 acres. Today, only about 40 acres are left.

As beaches disappear under rising seas, there are fewer safe places for the endangered seals to escape from sharks. As a result, more pups and juveniles are dying. Further loss of habitat can only put these endangered seals at greater risk.

Help prevent the extinction of the Hawaiian monk seal. Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect critical habitat for this treasured part of Hawaii's natural heritage.

deadline: Ongoing...
goal: 10,000

4,346
signatures!

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We, the undersigned, are concerned for the future of the Hawaiian monk seal, the most endangered seal species in the United States. We urge that critical habitat in the Main Hawaiian Islands receive legal protection as critical habitat necessary for preventing the extinction of the Hawaiian monk seal. Critical habitat designation would ensure management that is consistent with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act.

Since the mid 1950s, the monk seal population has declined rapidly, with only about 1,200 animals remaining. The threats from limited food sources, shark predation, global warming and sea level rise, entanglement in marine debris, disease, habitat loss and disturbance, fisheries interactions, and pollution are driving this already small population to the brink of extinction.

The Hawaiian monk seal has had designated habitat in a marine national monument at a remote archipelago northwest of Hawaii since 2006. Unfortunately, three-quarters of the islands in that sanctuary could be underwater before the end of the century thanks to global warming.

We signed the “Protect Habitat for Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals” petition!

# 2,050:

8:59 pm PDT, Jul 30, Shelly Bower, Nevada
ONLY WHEN THE LAST FISH IS EATEN LAST RIVER POLLUTED LAST DEER GONE WILL THEY REALIZE WE CAN'T EAT MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# 2,049:

5:27 pm PDT, Jul 30, Joe Zakes, Texas

# 2,048:

1:59 pm PDT, Jul 30, Andi Alnwick, New York

# 2,047:

6:26 am PDT, Jul 30, Mark Bailey, United Kingdom
The Hawaiian monk seal has had designated habitat in a marine national monument at a remote archipelago northwest of Hawaii since 2006. Unfortunately, three-quarters of the islands in that sanctuary could be underwater before the end of the century thanks to global warming. While the current critical habitat is important for the protection of the Hawaiian monk seal, expanded habitat protection is absolutely essential for the recovery of thepopulation. The scientific consensus is that the Main Hawaiian Islands are the best opportunity for the recovery of the dwindling population of monk seals. That is why we request amending the current Hawaiian monk seal critical habitat to include essential habitat areas along key beach areas, sand spits and islets, lagoon waters, inner reef waters, and ocean waters around each of the Main Hawaiian Islands. The potential for population growth, increased habitat and greater food availability in the Main Hawaiian Islands could be pivotal for the survival and recovery of the Hawaiian monk seal. Thank you for your consideration.

# 2,046:

5:51 pm PDT, Jul 29, Brad King, Florida

# 2,045:

4:36 pm PDT, Jul 29, Linda Bonura, Louisiana

# 2,044:

4:16 pm PDT, Jul 29, Maria Dixon, Spain

# 2,043:

1:56 pm PDT, Jul 29, Name not displayed, New Jersey
PROTECT THESE CREATURES NOW, WHILE WE STILL CAN!

# 2,042:

9:48 am PDT, Jul 29, Mateja Zerjal, Slovenia

# 2,040:

8:50 am PDT, Jul 29, Kathy Rau, California

# 2,039:

6:55 am PDT, Jul 29, Ryan Lovett, Illinois

# 2,038:

5:37 am PDT, Jul 29, Esther Elizabeth Crompton, South Carolina

# 2,037:

12:51 am PDT, Jul 29, Nicole Chapman, Australia
There are not many left and something must be done now!!!

# 2,036:

11:36 am PDT, Jul 28, Barbara Zimmerman, Florida

# 2,035:

11:05 am PDT, Jul 28, Heaven Leigh, New York
We need to preserve the lives of all species we can...

# 2,034:

9:47 pm PDT, Jul 27, Robyn Barnes, North Carolina

# 2,033:

8:35 pm PDT, Jul 27, MARYA KUTLER, Washington
lets save what remains of our natural resources

# 2,032:

5:37 pm PDT, Jul 27, Name not displayed, Utah

# 2,031:

1:20 pm PDT, Jul 27, Jack Layne, Tennessee

# 2,030:

12:57 am PDT, Jul 27, Kaitlyn Gillaspy, California
We must be responsible and protect life and the environment on this planet we share. It is important for our survival as well as the seals.

# 2,029:

9:57 pm PDT, Jul 26, Eternal Optimist, Australia

# 2,028:

4:26 pm PDT, Jul 26, Julie Gaines, Wisconsin

# 2,027:

1:33 pm PDT, Jul 26, Austin Kendall, Florida

# 2,026:

12:35 pm PDT, Jul 26, Regina Knapp, California

# 2,025:

2:39 am PDT, Jul 26, Diane Felci, New Jersey
Protect Habitat for Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals!!!

# 2,024:

9:57 pm PDT, Jul 25, BHUPESH SHAH, India
We strongly oppose Bush administration for not protecting the habitat of Hawaiian monk seal because if we fail to maintain ecological balance, the day will come when all living species including human being will be extinct.

# 2,023:

8:37 pm PDT, Jul 25, Jacinthe Vigneault, Canada

# 2,022:

7:22 pm PDT, Jul 25, Suzie Gordon, New Hampshire

# 2,021:

4:28 pm PDT, Jul 25, Dominique Marquez, California

# 2,020:

4:25 pm PDT, Jul 25, Nick McGuire, Ohio

# 2,019:

3:33 pm PDT, Jul 25, Bryan Weekes, Florida

# 2,018:

1:58 pm PDT, Jul 25, Deborah Olivo, Italy

# 2,017:

10:41 am PDT, Jul 25, Name not displayed, Maryland

# 2,016:

7:42 am PDT, Jul 25, Phil Heinlein, New York

# 2,015:

7:37 am PDT, Jul 25, Name not displayed, Illinois

# 2,014:

4:55 am PDT, Jul 25, Natali ME, Virginia

# 2,013:

4:55 am PDT, Jul 25, Natsuko Enomoto, Japan

# 2,012:

3:34 am PDT, Jul 25, Leiah Sariell, Finland

# 2,011:

5:46 pm PDT, Jul 24, Megan Anderson, Ohio
Stop these seals from going extinct! Don't take away such a beautiful creature!!

# 2,010:

8:58 am PDT, Jul 24, Lissette Gomez, Venezuela

# 2,009:

5:49 am PDT, Jul 24, Hector Medina, Illinois

# 2,008:

4:26 am PDT, Jul 24, Name not displayed, Belgium

# 2,007:

1:13 am PDT, Jul 24, Name not displayed, West Virginia

# 2,006:

7:05 pm PDT, Jul 23, Charlotte Barnes, Kentucky
Please do the right thing why does this administration want to hurt the planet and it's people and animals so much? everyone and everything has suffered enough these past 8 years!!

# 2,005:

2:22 pm PDT, Jul 23, Nicole Carpiniello, New York

# 2,004:

1:16 pm PDT, Jul 23, Name not displayed, Georgia

# 2,003:

12:47 pm PDT, Jul 23, THE PHOENIX, California
IT IS ORDERED THE MONK SEAL AND THEIR HABITAT BE PRESERVED. ANYTHING IS NON COMPLIANT. IT IS NOW FOUND, BUSH IS NON COMPLIANT WITH WHAT IS KNOWING AND GOOD. THEREFORE, PLAGUES OF SANCTIONS, HARDSHIPS WITH DEVASTATION WILL SWIFTLY HIM AND HIS AND TO ALL WHO TURN A BLIND EYE.

# 2,002:

11:38 am PDT, Jul 23, Patricia Olivos, Peru

# 2,001:

9:41 am PDT, Jul 23, Dr Kari Boudreau, Minnesota

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