COURTESY DOCARE Hawaiian monk seal RU68, a one-year-old female, was found deceased on a Molokai beach.

COURTESY DOCARE

Hawaiian monk seal RU68, a one-year-old female, was found deceased on a Molokai beach.

Federal wildlife officials are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the criminal conviction of persons involved in the recent death of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal on Molokai.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the death of RU68, a 1-year-old female seal, after she was found dead on a Molokai shoreline on Aug. 20. NOAA has determined the seal’s death was due to human causes.

Based on preliminary evidence from a necropsy, NOAA said the seal died from blunt force trauma to the head sometime on Aug. 17 or 18.

“We are asking the public for any information about individuals who may have been involved,” said NOAA in a news release. “We are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to a criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty.”

NOAA said the seal’s death is a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. Both acts prohibit harassing, harming, killing or feeding monk seals, with violations punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail.

Anyone with information about the death should call the NOAA enforcement hotline at (800) 853-1964.

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Anonymous tips are accepted, but to be eligible for the reward, the tipster must include their name and contact information.

NOAA said all names and contact information received will remain confidential and will not be shared with the public.