Tourists fined for touching endangered Hawaiian monk seal
In an undated describe supplied by Megan Nagel/United States Fish and Wildlife Service, a Hawaiian monk seal. (Megan Nagel/United States Fish and Wildlife Service thru The Novel York Times) — FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. —
Megan Nagel/united States Fish A/NYTHONOLULU (AP) — U.S. authorities launched an investigation and fined Louisiana tourists honeymooning in Hawaii after a video on social media confirmed a girl touching an endangered Hawaiian monk seal.
The couple were “deeply sorry,” a man identified as Stephen advised the Honolulu Giant name-Advertiser for a tale Tuesday. “We cherish Hawaii and the tradition. We didn’t mean to offend anybody.”
A video posted on TikTok and other social media confirmed a girl touching the seal at a Kauai beach in June. The video confirmed her working away after the resting seal raised its head and snapped at her.
The Associated Press wasn’t straight in a position to reach the couple Tuesday.
There are an estimated 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals within the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and 300 within the predominant Hawaiian Islands.
It be a criminal to touch or harass a Hawaiian monk seal under deliver and federal regulations, with penalties of as a lot as 5 years in penal advanced and a $50,000 pleasing.
The newspaper reported that authorities from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contacted the couple over the weekend and assessed an undisclosed pleasing.
Dominic Andrews, a spokesman for NOAA’s Order of work of Law Enforcement, mentioned an investigation is underway and declined to commentary extra.