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.”
The husband said they have received death threats since the video was posted.
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.
Video of Louisiana woman touching a seal
One video shows a Louisiana woman touching a seal on Kauai.
The video, which posted originally on TikTok, showed a woman touching the seal at a Kauai beach in June. The video, which was shared widely on social media, showed her running away after the resting seal raised its head and snapped at her.
The couple were “deeply sorry,” a man identified as Stephen told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for a story Tuesday. “We love Hawaii and the culture. We didn't mean to offend anyone."
Stephen said he and his wife, Lakyn, have received death threats and requested their last name not be published. His wife’s TikTok account has since been set to private.
The couple were on Kauai for their honeymoon after they got married in Maui. Stephen told the Star-Advertiser it was the first time they had seen a Hawaiian monk seal and they were unaware of the laws pertaining to the endangered species.
“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.
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Hawaii governor after Louisiana woman touches endangered seal: 'absolutely unacceptable' - NOLA.com
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