SEATTLE (AP) - A Washington state man is facing federal charges after being accused of harassing an endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The charges stem from a video that prosecutors say shows Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, throwing a large rock at the protected animal off a Maui beach.
The incident, which occurred last week, was recorded by a witness and prompted an investigation by a state Department of Land and Natural Resources officer in Lahaina. According to the complaint, the video shows a man holding a rock described as the size of a coconut, aiming at the monk seal, and throwing it. The rock narrowly missed the seal’s head, causing the animal to change its behavior abruptly, prosecutors said.
Lytvynchuk, who arranged to surrender in the Seattle area, was taken into custody by special agents from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle, where a judge ordered his release while he awaits a court appearance in Honolulu scheduled for May 27.
During the court hearing, Greg Geist, a federal public defender representing Lytvynchuk, said that Lytvynchuk had hired an attorney in Hawaii. However, the attorney’s name was not immediately available in the case docket. Geist declined to provide further comment following the hearing, and two supporters who attended also declined to speak to the press.
The video of the incident has drawn widespread condemnation and calls for accountability. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen commented on the case, stating, "The charges convey a clear message that cruelty towards protected wildlife will not be tolerated." He also identified the monk seal as "Lani", a beloved seal known along Lahaina’s waterfront. The mayor noted that the seal’s presence after Lahaina’s devastating wildfire in 2023 brought solace to the community. However, the state natural resources department later clarified in an email that it was unlikely to be Lani, as the seal in question lacked certain identifying markings.
Bissen further emphasized the importance of protecting wildlife, saying, "Humanity and the instinct to protect what is vulnerable are still values people can unite around." The mayor also confirmed that he had personally contacted the U.S. attorney in Honolulu to advocate for prosecution in the case.
Lytvynchuk faces charges under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison for each charge, as well as fines of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered, with an estimated wild population of just 1,600. The incident has sparked renewed focus on the importance of protecting these vulnerable animals and the potential consequences for those who harass them.
