HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Charges have been brought in the death of a Hawaiian monk seal pup on the north shore in May.
The pup, P07, was autopsied and found to have died from injuries consistent with a dog attack.
In a Thursday news release DLNR reported that one of their personnel, an interpretive technician with the Division of State Parks, reported the death of the seal.
NOAA released their own news release on Thursday stating that they had charged the interpretive technician, Lesley Macpherson, and James Armstrong Lyman with violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act by causing the unlawful take of a marine mammal.
They were "jointly assessed a $20,000 civil penalty in the case of an attack by unleashed dogs causing the death of a Hawaiian monk seal pup."
DLNR said they are investigating any violations of State laws, administrative rules or county ordinances.
P07's death was the third known death of a monk seal due to a dog attack.
In 2014, pup RFX4 was killed on Kauai, and in 2023, pup RS48 (Hoʻomau Lehua) was killed on Oʻahu.
NOAA Fisheries asks pet owners to protect monk seals and other native wildlife by adhering to their county’s leash laws.