R-17, known to the staff of Pacific Whale Foundation as "Lucille". She is a 15 year old Monk Seal. One of 1,000 some left in the Hawaiian Islands. Endangered is an understatement.

R-17 is 15 years old, birthed 9 pups that they know of off of the Molaki Crater and weans her pups for a few months before swimming off on her own. It's a harsh life here in paradise. Tiger sharks, White sharks and boats are all a threat each and every day. Add in being a loner and not living large groups for protection and it's her against the world.

Got to get up close and personal today. First full day here in Maui and looking forward many more days of these type of encounters.



**She is sleeping on the beach at our accommodations as they spend 2 to 3 weeks at a time in the open ocean feeding. Then after non stop activity they come ashore for 24 to 48 hours to sleep, rest adn then go back out at dusk**