Jul 31
thank you to the 38 peeps who participated in this poll about monk seal pup age 🦭🦭 the correct answer is “the seal on the right.” scroll down for more info on how to tell 🎓
these 2 pups are about 2 weeks apart in age. both are weaned, but the younger pup on the left still shows his nursing blubber (tho admittedly, he received a lot of calories from his big mom). the older pup on the right is starting to show more body definition. pics below show hawaiian monk seals from pup to age 2
newly weaned monk seal (this is rs10, iliokai’s mascot)
monk seal in the first year has a “lightbulb” head and is leaner
monk seal in the second year is small, thin & often ratty looking in preparation for molting
