Feds arrest tourist for hurling rock at endangered Hawaiian monk seal

Federal agents have arrested a Washington state tourist accused of throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal off a Maui beach. Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, was taken into custody near Seattle and charged with harassing a protected animal. The incident, captured on video, shows Lytvynchuk hurling a coconut-sized rock at the seal, known as "Lani," which narrowly missed the animal's head but caused it to alter its behavior. Witnesses confronted Lytvynchuk, who reportedly stated he did not care and claimed he was "rich enough to pay any fines." The U.S. attorney's office in Honolulu confirmed the arrest, noting that Lytvynchuk is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen condemned the act, emphasizing that cruelty toward protected wildlife will not be tolerated. The seal, Lani, is a beloved figure in Lahaina, a community recovering from a devastating wildfire in 2023. The case highlights the legal protections afforded to endangered species under federal law, including the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Lytvynchuk faces up to a year in prison and fines of up to $70,000 if convicted.