A Washington state tourist has been arrested on federal charges after allegedly throwing a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal near Lahaina. Multiple news sources report that the incident was captured on video and has drawn widespread condemnation from officials and the public.
- Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, from Covington, Washington, faces federal charges for harassing a protected animal
- Video shows him throwing a coconut-sized rock at a Hawaiian monk seal swimming in shallow water off Front Street in Lahaina
- The rock narrowly missed the seal’s head but caused the animal to abruptly change its behavior
- When confronted by a witness, Lytvynchuk allegedly said he didn’t care and was ‘rich enough to pay any fines’
- He surrendered to NOAA special agents in the Seattle area and appeared in U.S. District Court on Thursday
- A judge ordered his release pending a court appearance in Honolulu on May 27
- The monk seal is named Lani and has become a symbol of Maui’s recovery following the Lahaina wildfires (Breitbart)
- At least one local resident physically confronted the tourist, with the incident captured on social media (Breitbart)
- State Sen. Brenton Awa called the local resident a hero during a state meeting (Breitbart)
Sources
- Hawaii Public Radio: US agents arrest tourist after video shows a rock hurled at monk seal
- Breitbart: Tourist Arrested After Viral Video Allegedly Showed Him Throwing Rock at Beloved Seal in Hawaii
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