Washington Man Charged with Harassing Endangered Monk Seal “Lani” by . . . HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, was charged by criminal complaint on May 12, 2026, for harassing and attempting to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal by throwing a large rock at the seal’s head, in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act
Tourist arrested after video shows rock hurling at endangered Hawaiian . . . HONOLULU -- A tourist who drew widespread condemnation in Hawaii after a witness recorded him chucking a coconut-sized rock at “Lani,” a beloved, endangered Hawaiian monk seal off a Maui beach, was arrested Wednesday by federal agents Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, is charged with harassing a protected animal, the U S attorney's office in Honolulu said
Man charged after allegedly hurling rock at endangered monk seal A federal investigation began after a video appearing to show a man throwing a large rock toward a Hawaiian monk seal named Lani on Maui spread online The viral incident involving the endangered animal, which happened on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, led to immediate response from law enforcement and widespread public outrage