HONOLULU — The governor of Hawaii is warning tourists to stay away from endangered monk seals.
HONOLULU — The governor of Hawaii is warning tourists to stay away from endangered monk seals.
Democratic Gov. David Ige took to social media Wednesday after videos of visitors touching the seals led to a federal investigation and fines.
Ige said in a post on Twitter that anyone caught disturbing a seal “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
He added: “I want to be clear that this behavior is absolutely unacceptable. Visitors to our islands — you’re asked to respect our people, culture, and laws protecting endangered species that are found nowhere else in the world.”
Two widely circulated videos of visitors touching monk seals angered some Hawaii residents, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Thursday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it will investigate the incidents.
One video shows a Louisiana woman touching a seal on Kauai.
“When people feel like Hawaii is being disrespected by visitors who are looking for social media clout, the response is going to always be outrage,” Kauai Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said.
There are an estimated 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and 300 in the main Hawaiian Islands. It’s a felony under state and federal laws to touch or harass Hawaiian monk seals. Violations can include penalties of up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Well Kauai Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar, earn your pay. Prosecute to the full extent of the law and NO PLEA DEALS! We’ll be watching, elections are just around the corner…….
The monk seals are friendly. Unless you attack them. The seals never did know there are other life forms on earth.
Ah yes, “respect”….there is that word again. The tourists are not respecting us!!! Ah, maybe they don’t know that “touching” a seal could send you to jail for 5 years and a $50K fine.
Bet hey, on Kauai, you can put 10 dogs in a cage, in the back of your rusty Tacoma, designed for 5 dogs, and no one blinks an eye. Up until last month, you could tie a dog to a tree 24/7 without anyone saying “Why do you even have a dog”. Dog fighting?……is that ever enforced on this island?
Seals are an otherworldly entity on the Hawaii islands. Why???
What the lady did was dumb but minor. The 1st story I read said she apologized and was paying a fine. I saw the video of the TV guy harassing a seal. He should be prosecuted to full extent.