Maui mayor vows to prosecute visitor who allegedly threw rock at Hawaiian monk seal
Hawaii News Now • • nation
Key Points:
- Maui Mayor Richard Bissen condemned the actions of a Seattle man who allegedly threw a rock at a Hawaiian monk seal named Lani, a well-known seal in West Maui, and vowed to prosecute him.
- Witnesses reported the man and a companion repeatedly approached the seal despite warnings to back away, with the man throwing a rock directly at the seal’s head.
- The incident is under investigation by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and the 37-year-old suspect was questioned and released after invoking his right to legal counsel.
- Hawaiian monk seals are protected under state law, the federal Endangered Species Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with the case referred to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for further action.
- Authorities urge the public to report any wildlife harassment incidents to DLNR or NOAA enforcement hotlines to help protect endangered species.
