A viral video shows a man throwing a large rock at an endangered monk seal swimming just off shore in Maui. The young woman who was recording the video then confronted the man, asking him why he would do that and telling him that he could receive a large fine for that behavior. The woman told local news that the tourist said he didn’t care about a fine, because he was rich.
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Bystanders called authorities on the man and wildlife officials to check on the monk seal. The seal was clearly startled by the rock, and then it was behaving strangely after the incident, causing witnesses to fear the worst.
The Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources)Â posted an update on the investigation earlier today, saying:
“Yesterday, the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement’s (DOCARE) Maui Branch was notified of a case of monk seal harassment by Maui Police Department Dispatch. [. . .] When the officer arrived at the scene, the officer contacted a 37-year-old adult male from Seattle, Washington, who matched the description of the suspect. The male was detained, identified and advised of his legal rights. The male declined to make a statement and invoked his legal rights by requesting counsel of an attorney.”
[RELATED: Hawaiian Monk Seal Gives Birth on Oahu Beach—See the Baby]
So far, there are no criminal charges or official information about the man’s identity.
See the video of a man throwing a rock at a monk seal below (or watch here), and then scroll down for the DNLR’s latest update on the situation.
Here is the DLNR’s full update on the investigation:
This situation is ongoing, and details may change.
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