Hawaiian monk seal death reward information raised
Associated Press
LIHUE, Hawaii — A private organization is adding $3,000 to a $5,000 award offered by the federal government for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for killing a Hawaiian monk seal in April on Kauai.
The 5-year-old male was found shot to death on a remote beach near Kaumakani.
Dr. Carl Berg of The Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter says a previous award led to the arrest and conviction of a man who killed another monk seal on Kauai so the organization wanted to try again.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement is offering the $5,000.
The Hawaiian monk seal is an endangered species. Only about 1,200 are believed to exist, and their population is declining about 4 percent each year.
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Information from: The Garden Island, http://www.kauaiworld.com/