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Man caught on tape attacking pregnant, endangered seal on Hawaii beach Man caught on tape attacking pregnant, endangered seal on Hawaii beach
(about 2 hours later)
Federal authorities in Hawaii are searching for a man caught on video attacking a pregnant, endangered monk seal on a beach. A man was caught on tape attacking a pregnant, endangered monk seal on a beach in Hawaii, sparking widespread outrage and prompting federal authorities to launch a search for the suspect.
Kauai County police responded Tuesday night to a report of the man attacking the well-known, pregnant seal while she was trying to rest in the water, according to KHON-TV. Officials identified the seal as RK-30, who is easily identifiable by scars from shark bites, boat propellers and a neck entanglement. The alarming footage taken Tuesday night at Salt Pond Beach on the island of Kauai shows an unidentified man repeatedly hitting the seal, who officials say was disturbed by the assault but not injured.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials said that police are investigating the incident that was captured on video and shared on social media. “She’s a large seal, 600-plus pounds,” said Jamie Thomton, a Kauai marine mammal response coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “She’s a survivor … An assault by a man is something she can handle.”
“She’s large and appears to be approaching her due date,” Jamie Thomton, NOAA marine mammal response coordinator, told KHON-TV. “We responded immediately. Our phone started ringing off the hook.” The monk seal, identified by officials as RK-30, is the largest in the area and is very beloved in a community that is dedicated to the protection of the endangered species, Thomton said.
In the dark video made around sunset, a man is shown wading into the water, swinging at the seal and possibly throwing sand at the endangered animal. It’s unclear from the video if the man had a weapon. NOAA said the seal, believed to be about 17 years old, had no apparent injuries from the attack. The seal species, native to Hawaii and not found anywhere else in the world, is one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet, with officials estimating that there are only 1,060 total seals left.
Monk seals are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Anyone caught harming a monk seal can be fined up to $50,000 and ordered to serve up to one year in prison. As of Thursday, a joint federal and state investigation to identify and track down the suspect was still under way. There are state and federal laws that protect monk seals and endangered animals, and the man in the video could potentially face a fine of up to $50,000 and five years behind bars, according to Thomton.
Police did not immediately return a call seeking information about a suspect or possible arrests. These kinds of attacks on monk seals are not common, Thomton said, though there are occasional harassment incidents, and over the past decade or so there have been a small handful of killings by humans.
The seals are also very tough and often face tiger shark predators and occasionally fight with each other, Thomton said.
RK-30 is identifiable by scars from boat strikes, a neck entanglement and shark attacks, Thomton added. He said the seal is at least 17 years old and appears to be eight to 10 months pregnant.
“She was disturbed and agitated, but not enough to leave the area,” he added. “She’s completely unharmed and acting completely normal.”
The incident sparked outrage across Hawaii and a statement of sympathy from Kauai mayor Bernard Carvalho.
“I share our community’s shock and disappointment as this behavior is both unacceptable and illegal,” he said. “They deserve our respect and protection, and our gratitude goes out to the bystanders who immediately contacted authorities.”
Thomton said the video and the subsequent outrage on social media have provided an opportunity to educate the public about the endangered species. “The most important thing we’ve learned from this is that there is overwhelming support for monk seals and the coexistence with monk seals on the beach,” he said. “It highlights that we don’t accept this kind of treatment.”