A federal investigation has been launched in Hawaii after a visitor from Seattle was accused of throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal known locally as Lani. The incident took place near Lahaina in Maui and quickly drew widespread attention after video footage circulated online.
The footage appears to show the 37-year-old man throwing a rock at the seal while the animal rested near the shoreline. Lani can then be seen reacting defensively as nearby witnesses shouted at the man. Officers from Hawaii's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement later detained the suspect for questioning after witnesses provided descriptions matching the individual shown in the video.
