Alabama man fined for touching endangered Hawaiian monk seal
An Alabama man was fined $1,500 for touching a Hawaiian monk seal as well as harassing a sea turtle on Kauai, and then posting the videos on social media.
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The Alabama man, in the video posted on Instagram with the hashtag #monkseals, walks up to a sleeping monk seal on Poipu Beach at night, and strokes it with his hand. The startled seal quickly turns toward him, and he runs away.Hawaiian monk seals are a critically endangered species. They are protected by both state and federal laws, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials, while investigating the man's Instagram account, also found a video of him aggressively pursuing a sea turtle while snorkeling at Poipu.
All species of sea turtles in U.S. waters are listed as either threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, according to NOAA.
https://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/alabama-man-fined-touching-endangered-hawaiian-monk-seal-57416519
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I'm always horrified by the behavior of tourists when I am in Hawaii. The way they pursue sea turtles is abhorrent. It chases them away from feeding grounds and nesting areas. Same thing with the rare monk seals. I finally saw a monk seal sleeping on the sand in Kauai this spring, even though I have been going to Kauai for years. I can't imagine disturbing such an endangered creature from its much-needed rest.
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