Hawaii conservation officers are investigating after a man allegedly threw a rock at an endangered monk seal in the ocean off of Lahaina, Maui.
A social media post of the incident, meanwhile, has gone viral.
In the post, a man wearing a white T-shirt and shorts appears to lob a sizeable rock toward the monk seal’s head from shore as it swims in the ocean. Backlash has been swift, with people expressing outrage at the action, which appeared unprovoked, and expressing concerns about the seal known as Lani.
The Maui Police Department confirmed that at 10:51 a.m. Tuesday, its central dispatch received a report of a man in the Front Street area allegedly throwing a rock at a monk seal.
MPD notified the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources of the incident.
An officer from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement responded to the scene and located the man who allegedly threw the rock at the seal.
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DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla said the man has been identified, but has invoked his constitutional rights, and declined to speak with DLNR at this time.
“We have gathered statements, we have gathered evidence,” said Redulla during a virtual press conference, “and we are preparing to complete our investigator report and turn our investigation over to the federal government.”
Hawaiian monk seals are federally listed as an endangered species, and protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act as well as Hawaii law.
Redulla said the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act is the overarching law protecting monk seals, and therefore, the state will turn its investigation over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement.
The Star-Advertiser reached out to NOAA, but did not immediately hear back.
In past years, visitors have been fined $500 for unlawfully touching or harrassing a resting Hawaiian monk seal. Some were caught after posting videos of their actions to Instagram and TikTok.
Under state law, intentionally harming or harassing a Hawaiian monk seal is considered a class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000.
NOAA recommends maintaining a distance of at least 50 feet from Hawaiian monk seals resting on shore or in the water in its viewing guidelines.
When mother monk seals are nursing their pups, as is the case at Kaimana Beach on Oahu, the recommended distance is 150 feet on land and in water.
“The Maui Police Department reminds the public that Hawaiian monk seals are a protected species.” said MPD in a statement. “Individuals should maintain a safe and respectful distance, avoid any interaction or disturbance, and immediately report suspicious or harmful behavior to authorities. As demonstrated in this case, observing, documenting from a safe distance, and promptly reporting the incident are the appropriate steps to help ensure the safety and protection of wildlife.”