| Education and outreach are critical components of endangered species recovery efforts. Yet finding effective and engaging ways to communicate science and conservation can be challenging. In June 2017, a Hawaiian monk seal pup was born on Kaimana Beach. This was the first documented monk seal birth in Waikiki, one of the most populated areas in Hawaii. Managers and scientists were suddenly faced with an unprecedented level of public interest in these animals. The need to communicate human and seal safety to a massive number of beachgoers became critical as the public attempted to observe the seals up close and swim near the protective mother. With help from partners, personnel were on site sunrise to sunset educating the public about monk seal ecology and how to avoid harmful human-seal interactions. In another first, a local news outlet began broadcasting live, round-the-clock webcam footage of the seals. By taking advantage of social media platforms such as live-streamed "Pupdates," where National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration staff engaged in question and answer sessions with thousands of viewers globally, this challenging situation became a powerful opportunity to reach a broad audience. The result was a new community of stewards championing the recovery of the Hawaiian monk seal. |