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Help us save and protect the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal.
As a non-profit 501 (c3) organization, our mission is to protect and perpetuate the endangered Hawaiian monk seal species. We also maintain and train volunteers to assist federal, state, and non-governmental organizations’ in responding to Hawaiian monk seal “haul outs”, pupping events and injuries.
HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESPONSE TEAM OAHU TO JOIN THE MONK SEAL FOUNDATION
- MONK SEAL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF
HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESPONSE TEAM OAHU TO ORGANIZATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lahaina, Hawaii – March 1, 2013 – The Monk Seal Foundation (MSF), a Lahaina, Hawaii-based non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the critically-endangered Hawaiian monk seal has announced that the Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team Oahu (HMSRTO) will join its organization.
Pat Wardell, President of The Monk Seal Foundation, stated, “We are very excited to welcome the Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team Oahu to the Monk Seal Foundation family.” As part of the transition, HMSRTO will become the Oahu division of The Monk Seal Foundation. Heide Weber will lead the new division.
Heide Weber, Board Member of HMSRTO, noted, "The joining of HMSRTO and MSF is an exciting development. The HMSRTO board first approached MSF regarding this deal in order to pool the resources of the two organizations. Each organization has strengths that we want to capitalize for the benefit of the Hawaiian Monk Seal. "
There are no immediate changes anticipated for volunteers of either organization, with a gradual transition expected to be completed by the end of the year. MSF hopes to provide additional resources, and where appropriate, be able to better share knowledge, skills, and other assets across islands.
There is a strong need for an organization which has the scope and capacity to meet the growing challenge of protecting the Hawaiian monk seals, one of the most endangered animal species in the world. Only about 1,100 seals remain and their overall population is in decline.
“Because both organizations share a common vision to protect the critically-endangered Hawaiian monk seal species, we are confident that united we can provide even stronger advocacy for preserving one of Hawaii’s greatest treasures,” Wardell said.
About The Monk Seal Foundation and The Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team Oahu
More information about the foundation and its current projects can be found at www.monksealfoundation.org. More information about The Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team Oahu can be found at www.hmsrto.org.
