Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old tourist, was arrested for allegedly throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal named Lani in Hawaii on May 5. According to multiple reports, Lytvynchuk bragged about being 'rich enough to pay the fines' after witnesses confronted him.
Key Takeaways
A tourist was arrested for allegedly throwing a rock at an endangered monk seal in Hawaii and bragging about paying fines. Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk faces up to one year in prison and $70,000 in fines.
- Tourist charged with violating Endangered Species Act
- Rock narrowly missed the seal's head but caused it to alter behavior
- Witnesses reported the seal became immobile after the incident
- Local officials condemn the act as harmful to protected wildlife
The U.S. Attorney's Office charged Lytvynchuk with violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If convicted, he faces up to one year in prison for each charge, along with fines of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. According to CBS News, Lytvynchuk was arrested near Seattle and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court.
Witnesses described the rock as 'the size of a coconut' and reported that it narrowly missed the seal's head but caused Lani to abruptly alter its behavior. The seal became immobile for an extended period after the incident, according to HuffPost. Kaylee Schnitzer, an 18-year-old witness who filmed the incident, told local news outlet KHON2 that Lytvynchuk did not care about the animal's welfare and bragged about his ability to pay any fines.
Local officials condemned the act, emphasizing the importance of protecting endangered wildlife. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen stated that Lani is 'part of our ocean ohana in Lahaina' and that such behavior will not be tolerated. U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson also highlighted the commitment to protecting vulnerable wild species in Hawaii.
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