Monk Seals and Green Sea Turtles

The Green Sea Turtle is the only sea turtle that crawl up on the beach just to bask in the sun. Others come to land only to lay eggs. We saw turtles on the beach and swimming in the lagoon every day in Midway. Visitors are asked to give them a wide berth.Green Sea Turtles are reported to be making a come back in the Pacific.

	Monk Seals on the other hand are doing very poorly and are probably on their way to extinction. The main population of Monk Seal is on the island of French Frigate Shoals which is part of the Northwest Hawaiian chain of islands that includes Midway.
Here a Monk Seal rests on the beach in the sun. Researchers use chlorox to bleach numbers on the fur so they can be identified.
	The refuge on Midway does everything to protect the Monk Seals who make Midway their home. Here a sign warns visitors to stay off the beach where a seal is coming ashore. Notice the navy pier in the background. These piers allow visitors to walk, drive their golf cart, or ride their bicycles out into the lagoon. Spinner Dolphins can sometimes be seen from the piers.