A Hawaiian monk seal was recently found dead on a beach in Molokai, one of the islands in the American archipelago.
The one-year-old animal was apparently shot dead in the head, reports
Geo
.
This is the third murder of a monk seal recorded in Molokai in 2021 and the seventh in ten years.
The discovery was made by a walker.
Seeing a motionless shape on the beach, she approached to discover the lifeless body of a female seal named L11.
A review was conducted by the US Agency for Ocean and Atmospheric Observation (NOAA).
The bullet fragment found in the head leaves no doubt.
It is "associated with evidence of severe and fatal trauma," the agency concluded.
Two more murders in April
Other remains of monk seals were found this year.
In some cases, an investigation is still ongoing.
In two of these cases involving a four-year-old male and a three-year-old female found in April, the animals suffered "blunt trauma".
"These intentional killings of this endangered species are devastating for the recovery of this population," NOAA commented.
These attacks are a big blow to this species, as the Hawaiian monk seal is an endemic endemic species.
About a hundred individuals are found on the main islands and about 1,100 on the uninhabited islands located in the northwest of the archipelago.
Anyone guilty of murdering an endangered species faces up to five years in prison.
The authorities have so far no lead to find the person or those responsible for these crimes.
They rely on the information that residents can provide.
Planet
Greece: A seal, now a local mascot, killed by harpoon fire
Planet
170 dead seals wash up on Caspian beach in Russia
Seal
Hawaii
United States
Planet
Animals
0 comment
0 share
Share on Messenger
Share on Facebook
Share on twitter
Share on Flipboard
Share on Pinterest
Share on Linkedin
Send by Mail
To safeguard
A fault ?
To print