A wealthy tourist who allegedly hurled a 'coconut-sized' rock at a protected monk seal in
claims there's no proof Delta Air Lines ever informed him about the animal's protected status.
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Lines → hurl → status
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Washington, faces charges of violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act after he was filmed throwing a rock into the water near the seal.
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he → face → seal
He allegedly told onlookers confronting him that he didn't care because he is 'rich enough to pay the fines,' and later claimed he was trying to scare the seal away from protected turtles.
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he → tell → turtles
In a recent court filing, Lytvynchuk's attorneys now say prosecutors have no proof that Delta Air Lines presented information regarding endangered monk seals to people who boarded the April 28 flight from Seattle to Maui.
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who → say → Maui
They say that videos used on other carriers like Hawaiian Airlines can't be used as evidence of his knowledge about monk seals if the government cannot show Delta aired similar informational footage.
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Delta → say → footage
'The United States has no information in its possession and is not aware that Delta airs anything similar to the "Travel Pono" video on its flights,' prosecutors said in reference to Hawaiian Airlines travel videos, according to the defense filing.
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prosecutors → have → filing
Travel Pono roughly translates to travel righteously or explore with care.
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Pono → translate → care
Defense attorneys want to subpoena Delta for in-flight videos and other communications to determine whether Lytvynchuk was warned about the animals' protected status.
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Lytvynchuk → want → status
Although Delta Air Lines is not legally required to show Travel Pono videos before passengers board a flight, these videos educate the general public on how to interact respectfully with wildlife species.
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videos → require → species
A wealthy Washington tourist who hurled a 'coconut-sized' rock at a protected monk seal in Hawaii allegedly blames Delta Airlines for not informing him about the animal's protected status
Lytvynchuk allegedly said he didn't care after being called out by onlookers because he is 'rich enough to pay the fines' and pleaded not guilty in the US District Court in Honolulu
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, faced charges of violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act after shamelessly throwing a rock at a seal
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Lytvynchuk → hurl → seal
'The absence of a warning may itself be probative,' attorneys said, while acknowledging that it could be relevant to the man's pre-existing knowledge and state of mind.
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it → say → mind
Travel Pono videos are educational videos that cover topics ranging from respecting Hawaiian communities to wildlife conservation and even ocean and beach safety.
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that → cover → conservation
Hawaiian Airlines released a Travel Pono video to their YouTube page detailing tips on how to travel with respect.
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Airlines → release → respect
Some of the suggestions they recommended include throwing out trash, especially plastic waste that could harm wildlife species.
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that → recommend → species
'Hawaii is host to many endangered species, including Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, dolphins and humpback whales,' the video said.
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video → endanger → seals
'It's federal law to keep your distance from these majestic animals.'
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It → keep → animals
Hawaiian Airlines urged people not to 'approach or touch' the endangered animals.
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Airlines → urge → animals
According to US federal prosecutors, Lytvynchuk faces formal charges for "taking" an endangered Hawaiian monk seal
Delta Airlines is not legally required to show Travel Pono videos before passengers board a flight, these videos educate the general public on how to interact respectfully with species
There are an estimated 1,600 endangered seals alive, with the majority of them in Papahānaumokuākea, an area of the ocean in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Lytvynchuk faces charges of 'taking' an endangered Hawaiian monk seal.
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Lytvynchuk → accord → seal
Under the law, 'taking' refers to any attempt to disturb, harm, hunt, injure, or kill a protected species.
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taking → refer → species
He pleaded not guilty in the US District Court in Honolulu and was released on a $25,000 bond as he awaits his trial, which will begin on November 16.
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which → plead → November
The Daily Mail reached out to Delta Air Lines for comment.
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Mail → reach → comment
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