First off, to clarify, the Hawaiian authorities will prosecute anyone that harasses wildlife for any purposes. But authorities put out a warning this week that they will use social media specifically to track down, and bring charges against anyone harassing the island chain’s wild animals.
Hawaii’s ABC affiliate reported that a recent viral TikTok video of a tourist disturbing a monk seal renewed calls for the state to educate visitors. Administrators with Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources emphasized in the report how disrespectful it is to violate state and federal laws by harassing ocean species and reiterated how serious the department is about stopping the practice that has found its way onto social media channels of late.
