Monk Seal Monday #2: Lei Ola | August 2016 | Edition: 1/1 NFT | License: Extended Editorial

Lei Ola (#MonkSealRH48) was born on Oahu's North Shore in 2016, and I was tasked to do a shift with the mother, Ua Maile (#MonkSealRT10) and pup pair. When I arrived, I found Lei Ola on her own, and I called it in to the hotline to report. Volunteers were concerned because monk seals in the main Hawaiian islands nurse on average between 42-45 days, but Lei Ola had only been nursing for 35, so it was "too early" for her.

I captured this image of her hauling out on the beach, my favorite moment to capture our monk seal pups, within hours of their weaning. This is as fat as fat as Lei Ola will be, and was evidence that her mother, Ua Maile, had done a fantastic job fattening her up.

Lei Ola is also a contrast in the different personalities of our Hawaiian monk seals. Her older brother, Holokai (#MonkSealRG40), spent the first several years of his life within a mile of his birth beach. Meanwhile, Lei Ola was seen on the other side of the island within a few months of her birth.

This image was recognized as the Honorable Mention for the 20th Annual Hawaii Magazine photography contest in the wildlife category.

The Monk Seal Monday collection is 20 images curated from more than 10 years of photographing one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, the Hawaiian monk seal. Only 1,400 remain and 30% of those are here today due to the direct intervention of the organizations working to conserve them. I have spent thousands of hours doing education and outreach as a volunteer on the beaches with these beautiful animals.

I've also been doing Monk Seal Monday posts on social media for longer than I can remember and will continue to do so every Monday. Despite all our best efforts, this is a species hanging in the balance. I hope my Monk Seal post each Monday helps call attention to this beautiful animal and the work to conserve them for future generations. Now, with NFTs curated from these Monk Seal Monday images, I hope to do more.

A portion of the proceeds from each sale in this collection will be donated to the non-profit organizations on the front lines of rescuing this species from extinction.

Jason O'Rourke is an award-winning wildlife and landscape photographer living in Hawaii, recognized by National Geographic YourShot, Outdoor Photographer, Hawaii Magazine, Digital Photo, American Photo, the Los Angeles Times, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, PhotoCon Hawaii, and Turtle Bay Resort.

Extended Editorial License: Can be used to display privately, or in commercial and non-commercial settings, or in groups with an unlimited number of participants. The License includes unlimited use and display in virtual or physical galleries, documentaries, and essays by the NFT holder. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works.

Extended Editorial License: Can be used to display privately, or in commercial and non-commercial settings, or in groups with an unlimited number of participants. The License includes unlimited use and display in virtual or physical galleries, documentaries, and essays by the NFT holder. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works.