A federal investigation is underway after a video appearing to show a man throwing a large rock toward an endangered Hawaiian monk seal off the coast of Maui sparked widespread outrage online and across Hawaii.
The incident happened last week near Front Street in Lahaina, where an unidentified man targeted a well-known seal named Lani.
Authorities say the case is now being reviewed under federal marine mammal protection laws.
Viral Video Sparks Backlash
The footage was recorded by Kaylee Schnitzer, who can be heard confronting the man during the encounter. It shows a man throwing a rock at the seal, which then lurches out of the water as the rock lands either on or close to the animal. Whether the seal was injured in the attack is unclear.
“What are you doing? Why would you throw a rock at it?” Schnitzer shouted in the video.
Schnitzer said the man took a rock and threw it at the seal’s head. She also said the man said he didn’t care and said “fine me, I’m rich.” The man can later be seen walking away with an unidentified woman. Another clip also shows the man sitting on the beach with a law enforcement officer standing next to him.
The footage, which was shared on Instagram by Schnitzer and Fox 13 Seattle reporter Lauren Donovan, has drawn tens of thousands of reactions and comments online. Social media users have identified the alleged perpetrator as “Igor,” though local police have not confirmed his identity.
Another video circulating online appears to show a man assaulting the suspect after the seal incident. Newsweek has been unable to verify the video.
In a statement issued May 6, Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources said officers from the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) responded after receiving reports of monk seal harassment.
An officer located and detained a 37-year-old man from Seattle, Washington. According to the department, the man declined to give a statement and requested legal counsel. No criminal charges have yet been filed as of the latest May 6 update.
The department said the case would be handed over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement for further review under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement has confirmed to Newsweek it is investigating the incident.
Newsweek has contacted Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources via email outside of regular working hours for an update on the case.
Under federal law, harming, harassing or disturbing endangered marine mammals is prohibited. According to NOAA Fisheries, violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act can carry civil penalties of up to $36,498, as well as possible criminal fines and prison sentences of up to one year.
Condemnation
The attack on Lani prompted a strong response from local lawmakers.
“Like many in our community, I was shocked by what happened,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in a video statement posted to Instagram. Lani is not just a seal to us, she is part of our ocean ohana in Lahaina. Many of our residents know her, watch over her, and care deeply about her wellbeing.”
Bissen also thanked residents who expressed concern following the incident and criticized the behavior seen in the viral footage.
“Let me be clear, this is not the kind of visitor we welcome on Maui,” Bissen said. “We welcome respectful visitors that understand that our cultural environment and wildlife must be treated with care and aloha. Behavior like this will not be tolerated.”
State Senator Brenton Awa, a Republican, commented on the separate video allegedly showing the suspect being beaten by another man, describing the unidentified individual as “an environmental activist.”
Awa also wrote a letter of recommendation for the man who confronted the individual who allegedly harassed the seal to be recognized as an “ambassador of Aloha” and suggested airlines play footage of the incident on incoming flights to educate visitors about respecting Hawaii’s wildlife and environment.
Hawaiian Monk Seals
The Hawaiian monk seal is among the rarest marine mammals in the world. Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources estimates that only around 1,600 mature seals remain in the wild.
The species was classified as endangered in 1976, and wildlife officials have repeatedly warned visitors and residents to keep their distance from the animals.
In its statement, the Department of Land and Natural Resources pointed to separate recent incidents on Oahu, where people reportedly crossed barriers around a mother monk seal and her newborn pup at Kaimana Beach in Honolulu.
“This is a very crucial time in the life of this pup, so for these people to be breaching the area and getting close is not a good idea at all,” Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement chief Jason Redulla said.
Redulla also warned that monk seals can become aggressive if they feel threatened.
“If the mother seal perceives any human or pet to be a threat, she may attack. This is what happened during a 2022 encounter between a swimmer and mother seal at Kaimana Beach. The swimmer suffered lacerations to her face, back and arm,” he said.
He added that previous monk-seal-related enforcement cases have resulted in “substantial” fines amounting to thousands of dollars.
“To keep people and pets safe, and to protect our endangered marine life, we ask the public’s help by showing respect for these animals and following all guidelines for safe viewing,” Redulla said.
Related Articles
