(AP) — Hawaiʻi’s governor is warning tourists to stay away from endangered monk seals. Democratic Gov. David Ige took to social media Wednesday after videos of visitors touching the seals led to a federal investigation and fines for visitors. Ige said in a post on Twitter that anyone caught disturbing a seal “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that two widely circulated videos of visitors touching monk seals angered some Hawaiʻi residents. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it is investigating the incidents. Hawaiian monk seals are protected by federal and state law. There are only about 1,400 monk seals left in the wild.

© copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved

Photo courtesy of DLNR