Tourist Throws Rock at Endangered Monk Seal on Maui, Faces Federal Charges
Where things stand
Updated May 14, 03:56 PMIgor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old from Covington, Washington, has been arrested and charged with violating the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act after allegedly throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal named Lani on a Maui beach. The incident, captured on video and shared on social media, shows a rock hurled at the seal's head. Witnesses said Lytvynchuk boasted of being wealthy when confronted. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle. If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison and fines totaling $70,000. Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered, with only about 1,600 remaining in the wild.
Open questions
- What was Lytvynchuk's motive for throwing the rock?
- Has the seal Lani suffered any lasting injuries or behavioral changes?
- What specific charges under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act were filed?
- Has Lytvynchuk entered a plea, and is he in custody or released on bail?
- How did authorities identify and locate Lytvynchuk after the incident?
- Are there prior incidents of harassment of monk seals by tourists at this location?
Key actors
What's corroborated
Lytvynchuk was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Thursday.
1 sourceacross 1 articleHawaiian monk seals are critically endangered with only 1,600 remaining in the wild.
1 sourceacross 1 articleThe incident went viral after witness Kaylee Schnitzer shared the clip on social media.
1 sourceacross 1 articleWhen confronted by witnesses who said they had contacted authorities, Lytvynchuk bragged that he was 'rich enough to pay the fines.'
1 sourceacross 1 articleWitnesses said Lani remained largely immobile for an extended period after the incident.
1 sourceacross 1 article