Tourist accused of hurling rock at endangered Hawaiian monk seal was trying to protect sea turtles, lawyer says

Key Points:

• Igor Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old tourist from Washington state, faces charges in Honolulu for allegedly throwing a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, an act captured on video and widely condemned in Hawaii.
• Lytvynchuk's defense attorney claims he mistook the seal for an aggressive sea lion and was trying to protect sea turtles; the attorney also reported that Lytvynchuk has since been physically assaulted, threatened, and doxed.
• The incident, which occurred in Lahaina, Maui, involved a seal identified as "R404," and has prompted calls for greater public education on protecting Hawaiian monk seals, a critically endangered species with only about 1,600 remaining.
• Lytvynchuk faces charges under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with potential penalties including up to one year in prison and fines totaling up to $70,000.
• U.S. authorities emphasize their commitment to safeguarding Hawaii's unique wildlife, while the defense highlights perceived bias against Lytvynchuk as a white outsider, noting that most attacks on monk seals and turtles are by locals.