A tourist from Washington state is now facing federal charges after a disturbing video allegedly showed him throwing a large rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal near a beach in Maui.

The incident, which quickly sparked outrage across social media and Hawaii, involved one of the rarest marine mammals on Earth — a species with only around 1,600 individuals remaining in the wild.

According to federal prosecutors, 38-year-old Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk was recorded by a witness while standing near shallow waters off Lahaina beach. In the cellphone footage, prosecutors say the man could be seen picking up a rock roughly the size of a coconut before throwing it directly toward the seal.

The rock reportedly narrowly missed the animal’s head.

But officials say the seal immediately changed its behavior in distress after the object struck the water nearby.

Witnesses who saw the incident were horrified.

According to court documents, one person confronted the man afterward, only to allegedly receive a shocking response. Prosecutors say the suspect claimed he “did not care” and was “rich enough” to pay any fines.

The video quickly spread online, triggering widespread anger and calls for criminal prosecution from both wildlife advocates and local residents.

Federal agents with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration later moved to arrest Lytvynchuk, who surrendered in the Seattle area before appearing in U.S. District Court. He has since been charged with violating both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison for each charge, along with tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

The incident struck an emotional nerve across Hawaii not only because of the cruelty involved, but because many locals believed the seal may have been “Lani,” a beloved monk seal often seen along Lahaina’s waterfront after the devastating Maui wildfires of 2023.

For residents still healing from that tragedy, the seal had become a symbol of resilience and hope.

Although Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources later said the animal likely was not Lani due to missing identifying markings, public outrage remained intense.

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen praised the charges, saying the case sends a clear message that cruelty toward protected wildlife will not be tolerated.

Hawaiian monk seals are considered critically endangered and are protected under federal law. Conservationists warn the species already faces enormous threats from habitat loss, pollution, fishing gear entanglement, and human disturbance.

And now, many people online are asking the same painful question:

How can anyone look at a vulnerable animal fighting to survive… and choose cruelty instead of compassion? 🦭🌊💔