Footage Shows Tourist Slapping Monk Seal in Hawaii

The man who went viral after a video showed him slapping a monk seal in Hawaii has apologized through his attorney after paying state and federal fines. A Tik Tok video surfaced of an anonymous man shown slapping a monk seal in Oahu. He paid federal and state fines for violating the Endangered Species Act.

A statement from the man’s lawyer read, “While this is an incident that my client wishes to leave behind, he is also hopeful that his mistake will be used as an example of the types of conduct tourists must avoid,” the statement read. “The hope of my client and of the law enforcement officers involved in this matter is that my client’s brief lapse of judgment serves as a lesson that ultimately aids in the protection of both the indigenous species of Hawaii and those who are fortunate enough to observe them personally. To all who were dismayed at my client’s actions, please accept this apology.”

The video was posted on Instagram and has now been deleted, with an apology by the user who posted the video. See the Tik Tok video, below:

The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement made a statement at the time of the violation, “We encourage people to report violations immediately,” chief Jason Redulla said. “Far too often we learn about these cases after they’ve been posted to social media, which compounds the difficulty of gathering evidence and witness statements in real time.”

Because monk seals are an endangered species, it’s illegal to disturb, touch, or harm them. Monk seal harassment is punishable by fines and imprisonment. It’s a class C felony.

Sign this petition to protect the monk seal!

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