Killing of 2 violent seals is a sad but logical strategy

By Susan Scott

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 29, 2011

~~<p>Earlier this month, a news release from the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument office stopped me in my tracks. Federal managers had decided to eliminate two serially aggressive male monk seals from Kure Atoll. This drastic action was deemed necessary because in their misdirected attempts to mate, the two adults have been squashing, drowning and biting baby seals to death.</p>
<p>Does "eliminate" mean "kill"? I emailed the NOAA contact. Yes, came the reply.</p>
~~

Earlier this month, a news release from the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument office stopped me in my tracks. Federal managers had decided to eliminate two serially aggressive male monk seals from Kure Atoll. This drastic action was deemed necessary because in their misdirected attempts to mate, the two adults have been squashing, drowning and biting baby seals to death.