- Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a Washington man, has been arrested and charged after allegedly throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Maui.
- The 38-year-old faces charges under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act for harassing and attempting to harass the seal, known as 'Lani'.
- Prosecutors state Lytvynchuk flung the rock at Lani on 5 May, with footage showing the projectile almost hitting the seal's head, causing her to rear out of the water.
- If convicted, Lytvynchuk could face up to a year in prison for each charge, along with substantial fines of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and a fine of up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
- The incident, which went viral after being shared on social media, has drawn strong condemnation from local officials, who emphasised the importance of protecting Hawaii's vulnerable wildlife.
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