LIHU‘E — Arrests have reportedly not been made yet in connection to the two monk seal shootings which occurred on Kaua‘i in recent months, though federal investigators say they expect an announcement to be made soon. “Something is likely to
LIHU‘E — Arrests have reportedly not been made yet in connection to the two monk seal shootings which occurred on Kaua‘i in recent months, though federal investigators say they expect an announcement to be made soon.
“Something is likely to happen in the next week or two,” said Assistant United States Attorney Marshall Silverberg, regarding the second case where a pregnant female was shot on a North Shore beach.
“We haven’t forgotten about the matter,” he adds.
Also, attempts to find those responsible for the first shooting of a male seal at Kaumakani on the Westside are ongoing, said William Pickering, special agent in charge of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s office of law enforcement for the Pacific Islands Division.
“We have no information indicating that the two incidents are connected,” Pickering said. “At this time, there’s nothing to point to us that the second incident and the first are one and the same.
“We surely welcome any information,” Pickering said Friday. “Someone out there probably could give us something.”
While there are no rewards being offered at this time for disclosure of facts related to the primary occurrence, Pickering said his office is “exploring moving down” that path.
Individuals with any information in connection to the shootings are still urged to call 1-800-853-1964.
Kaua‘i timeline: Animal shootings
• April 19 — RK19, a 5-year-old adult male seal, was found shot to death at Kaumakani on the Westside.
• May 21 — RK06, a pregnant female monk seal and mother of five, was shot to death at Pila‘a beach on the North Shore.
• July 9 — Two horses were shot in Kapaia; one horse was fatally shot in the chest and suffocated after blood filled his lungs, while the other horse survived a bullet wound to his face.
