«I’m rich enough to pay the fines,» he said. Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchukthe man who threw a stone at the head of a monk seala endangered species. The incident was recorded and began an investigation that led to the capture of the 38-year-old man.
This May 14, Lytvynchuk appeared before the Seattle court, accused of violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Actas reported by the US Department of Justice in a statement.
«The unique and valuable fauna of the Hawaiian Islands is a recognized symbol of Hawaii’s special place in the world and its incredible biodiversity. We are committed to protecting our vulnerable wild speciesparticularly endangered Hawaiian monk seals like Lani,» said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson.
On May 5, Lytvynchuk was recorded while walking along the coast of Lahainain the county of Maui, Hawaiiwhile following the Hawaiian monk seal known as «Lani»who was playing with a log near the shore.
Lytvynchuk picked up a rock from the ground, took aim, and threw it directly at Lani’s head. The stone passed very close to her nose, which startled her and made her jump out of the water. «What he was lifting was a stone the size of a coconut. It was not a small stone. It was the size of a coconut. And he threw it directly at the seal’s head,» Kaylee Schnitzer told the media. Hawaii News Now.
The 18-year-old girl was taking photos of the beach with her cell phone at that time and was the one who recorded the event that was later spread on social networks. Schnitzer and another resident confronted Lytvynchuk and warned him that they would report the incident to the authorities, to which he responded that it was «rich enough to pay the fines»and then he left.
After the incident, Lani became «virtually motionless for a long period of time»which caused «great concern for his well-being.» “She lay down on a rock with her head and tail in the water, belly up, just lying there,” Schnitzer said.
The incident was reported to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the state-level government agency responsible for managing, protecting and administering the natural, public and cultural resources of a state or territory.
On May 12, a criminal complaint against Lytvynchuk, who was finally detained the next day by officials from the National Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOOA) near Seattle, Washington.
If found guiltyLytvynchuk could go to prison for a year for each charge against him and then must serve a period of supervised release. In addition, he must pay a fine of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and a fine of up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
«We are committed to ensuring that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face quick accountability in federal court,» said Prosecutor Sorenson.
The case was handled by the assistant federal prosecutor Michael Nammarwhile NOOA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement is conducting the investigation.
The importance of monk seal conservation
According to DRINKthe monk monk —also known as Mediterranean friar seal— is an endangered species protected by both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
As its name indicates, the Mediterranean monk seal lives in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean, along the coast of northwest Africa. Currently, it is estimated that There are between 600 and 700 specimens left in the world.being between 350 and 450 mature individuals.
Among the main threats are displacement and habitat deterioration, pollution, deliberate hunting by humans, as well as accidental capture and entanglement in fishing nets. According to local legislation, people must remain at least 15 meters away from this animal. Violations can lead to fines and even jail terms.
