A Washington state man is arrested and faces federal charges after prosecutors say he hurled a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal off a Maui beach. Multiple outlets report that a witness recorded video of the incident involving “Lani,” a monk seal known to people in the area. Authorities say the alleged event occurred last week, and the man is later taken into custody by special agents from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Seattle area.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Honolulu says the accused man, identified by some outlets as Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, has been charged with harassing and attempting to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal by throwing a large rock at the seal’s head. Reports describe the arrest as following widespread attention to the video.
An attorney for the defendant, as reported by one outlet, argues the man’s actions were not intended to injure the seal and characterizes the conduct as protective behavior toward turtles. The allegations have not been established in court, and the case is ongoing.
