Hawaii ‘Lani’ monk seal: US agents arrest tourist after video shows a rock hurled at endangered animal
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old tourist from Washington, was arrested by federal agents for allegedly throwing a coconut-sized rock at "Lani," an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Maui, causing distress to the animal.
- He faces charges of harassing a protected animal and is scheduled to appear in US District Court in Seattle; if convicted, he could face up to one year in prison and fines totaling up to $70,000 under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.
- The incident was recorded on video and reported to authorities, with witnesses stating Lytvynchuk showed no remorse, claiming he was wealthy enough to pay any fines.
- Maui Mayor Richard Bissen condemned the act, emphasizing that cruelty toward protected wildlife will not be tolerated and highlighting Lani as a symbol of hope and healing for the community after the 2023 wildfires.
- Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered, with only about 1,600 remaining in the wild, underscoring the seriousness of the harassment charges.