Washington Man Arrested for Throwing Rocks at Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal

A Seattle man has been arrested after allegedly hurling rocks at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Hawaii.

Igor Mihailovich Litvinchuk made his first court appearance on Thursday before a federal judge. He was arrested and later released from custody without bail. Cameras were not permitted in the courtroom, and Litvinchuk spoke only when answering the judge’s questions.

Video of the incident, captured earlier this month by bystander Kaylee Schnitzer, has sparked widespread outrage among wildlife advocates and has been widely shared on social media.

If convicted, Litvinchuk faces up to one year in prison for each charge and possible fines of up to $70,000. His next hearing is scheduled in about two weeks, after which the case will be transferred to Hawaii.

Maui Mayor Richard Bisson condemned the act, describing monk seals as a very rare, harmless species that are part of the local culture and “ohana,” or family, and are particularly endearing to Hawaiian people.

“This was pretty egregious since there was really nothing threatening [the] harmless animal,” Bisson said. He expressed hope that more answers would emerge about why the incident occurred and questioned what might have happened if the rock had made contact with the seal, referred to as Lonnie.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the protected status of Hawaiian monk seals.