A tourist has faced significant backlash in Hawaii after he was seen throwing a rock, about the size of a coconut, at Lani, an endangered Hawaiian monk seal on a Maui beach. Federal agents arrested Igor Mikhailovich Litvinchuk, 38, from Covington, Washington, on Wednesday, charging him with harassment of a protected animal, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Honolulu. He was apprehended by special agents from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration near Seattle.
Litvinchuk is set to appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Thursday.
As it stands, court records do not indicate that he has an attorney, and a person who answered a phone number associated with him declined to comment.
Officials with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources had been looking into reports of harassment towards Hawaiian monk seals in Lahaina, an area significantly affected by the devastating wildfires in 2023.
Witnesses provided video evidence to officers showing the monk seal swimming in shallow waters while a man observed from the shore. Prosecutors detailed in a criminal complaint that cellphone footage captured the man aiming and throwing a large rock directly at the seal.
Witness accounts noted that the rock nearly struck the seal’s head, which prompted a notable change in the seal’s behavior.
When confronted by a witness, Litvinchuk allegedly remarked that he “didn’t care” and claimed to be “wealthy enough” to handle any resulting fine, as stated in the complaint.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen emphasized that the charges deliver a strong message against cruelty to protected wildlife. He mentioned that Lani’s recovery following the wildfires symbolizes healing and hope in challenging times.
Bissen expressed in an email that Lani serves as a reminder of humanity’s instinct to safeguard those who are vulnerable, which is a value that can bring people together.
He also reached out to the U.S. attorney in Honolulu, advocating for the charges against Litvinchuk.
The charges against Litvinchuk for harassing or attempting to harass an endangered species are significant since Hawaiian monk seals are classified as endangered, with only around 1,600 left in the wild.
If found guilty, Litvinchuk may face up to a year in prison for each count, alongside potential fines that could reach $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
