A Hawaiian monk seal swam near the Lahaina shoreline when witnesses say a man picked up a large rock and threw it toward the endangered animal.

The incident happened Tuesday morning along Front Street, where a couple had repeatedly moved close to the seal despite warnings from people nearby, Hawaii News Now reports. In the video, bystanders can be heard shouting as the rock is thrown in the seal’s direction.

Maui resident Kaylee Schnitzer told the station the rock was about the size of a coconut and appeared to be aimed at the seal’s head. She and another witness called the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The seal then moved toward nearby rocks.

A Hawaiian monk seal was targeted near the Lahaina shoreline.

State Officers Identify A Man From Seattle

The fallout moved quickly. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said its Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement was notified by Maui Police Department dispatch and responded to the Lahaina case.

While on the way, a DOCARE officer contacted the reporting party and received a description of the alleged suspect. At the scene, the officer contacted a 37-year-old man from Seattle who matched that description. DLNR said the man was detained, identified, advised of his legal rights, and declined to make a statement after requesting an attorney.

The man has not been criminally charged, and DLNR said it would not release his identity at this stage. The agency said the state investigation will be turned over to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for further review under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Witnesses say the animal was approached before the rock was thrown.

The Seal’s Condition Remains Unclear

DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla said the seal’s condition and identity had not been confirmed, Aloha State Daily reports. The outlet reported that the video appears to show the rock landing close to the seal’s snout before the animal swims away.

Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Hawaii law. NOAA estimates the total population at about 1,600 seals, with roughly 400 in the main Hawaiian Islands, NOAA Fisheries reports.

A bystander reported the encounter to state officials.

Officials Warn Beachgoers To Stay Back

The Lahaina case comes as officials also respond to problems at Kaimana Beach on Oahu, where 15-year-old monk seal Kaiwi gave birth to a pup on May 3. DLNR said people have breached temporary fencing around the resting area for the mother and newborn.

Officials ask the public to stay at least 50 feet from all monk seals and at least 150 feet from mothers with pups. The same guidance tells people to remain behind signs and barriers, keep dogs leashed, and use a zoom lens instead of moving closer, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources reports.

NOAA also tells beachgoers not to touch, chase, feed, or disturb marine wildlife, and to report suspicious activity or possible violations, NOAA Fisheries reports.

For Hawaii’s monk seals, distance is not just etiquette. It is a basic protection for an animal still fighting its way back from the edge.