DLNR News Release-Kauai Monk Seal Death, Sept. 11, 2020
Posted on Sep 11, 2020 in Latest Department News, Newsroom(Līhuʻe, Kaua‘i) – Law enforcement officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and
Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s
Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) are investigating the death of a juvenile Hawaiian monk seal on Kaua‘i. This was reported on Thursday in the Anahola area and the cause of death of this seal is currently unknown.
Killing a Hawaiian monk seal is both a federal and state crime with severe penalties. Under
Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, the state legislature made intentionally or knowingly killing a monk seal a felony…believing these acts are so egregious to warrant a felony penalty. Anyone convicted of this, or other killings of monk seals, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Anyone who has information about this is strongly urged to contact DOCARE at (808) 643-DLNR (3567) or use the free DLNRTip app available for iPhone and Android devices. Or call the OLE enforcement hotline at (800) 853-1964.
# # #
Photographs (Required for usage: NOAA Permit #18786)
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t1643v18fp1fhj3/AADYc5sc13ZaYbGp2DF6jteHa?dl=0
Media Contact:
Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
(808) 587-0396