Authorities investigate viral Kauaʻi monk seal photos and AI claims

Hawaiian Monk Seal Viral Photos Spark Federal Investigation and AI Claims on Kauaʻi

A social media post featuring two women posing near an endangered Hawaiian monk seal at Salt Pond Beach Park on Kauaʻi has triggered backlash and joint investigations by state and federal authorities, Hawaii News Now reported. The three-photo collage, posted earlier this week with a misspelled reference to Kauaʻi, has since been deleted. The images capture what appears to be a seal reacting to the nearby visitors.

When contacted by Hawaii News Now, one of the women claimed the images were edited using artificial intelligence and that neither woman approached or got close to a monk seal. She stated that ChatGPT suggested adding the seal because the animals are native to the area. However, a viewer subsequently provided HNN Investigates with a screen recording of an Instagram story posted by one of the women, which appeared to show a monk seal at close range before being removed.

Google Tool Finds No Watermark on Viral Photo

The woman also supplied Hawaii News Now with what she described as the original image. Local community member Kekoa Kealoha questioned the explanation, telling reporters, The Internet is forever. I don’t think I — how do I say this tactfully? We’re not stupid, right?

Real or AI? Viral Kauai monk seal photos spark backlash, investigations

HNN Investigates ran both the viral image and the purported original through SynthID, a Google tool designed to detect digital watermarks in content created or edited using Google AI. The software did not detect a SynthID watermark in the viral photo the woman claims was AI-edited. Conversely, the tool detected a watermark in the image the woman provided to HNN, which she said was the original. This finding indicates that Google AI may have been used to create or edit that image, though the output alone does not establish what was changed or when. Kealoha said he believes the seal was removed from the image using AI, rather than added.

Advocate Warns Proximity Puts Animals at Risk

Hawaiian monk seals are protected under state and federal law. Individuals are advised by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to maintain a distance of at least 50 feet from monk seals, and no less than 150 feet away when mothers are accompanied by pups. One of the initial post’s pictures shows the animal seeming to snap or bark in the direction of the women.

Michelle Poppler, a monk seal advocate, warned that getting too close can put both people and the animals at risk, noting that disturbing a seal could cause it to return to the ocean, potentially putting the animal in danger. Kealoha emphasized the need for an honest explanation, stating, We don’t need to be gaslit or manipulated, and it’s not unusual for people to try and escape this kind of accountability.

Federal and State Agencies Investigate Social Media Post

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) confirmed it received numerous reports concerning the incident and is coordinating its investigation with federal authorities. NOAA Fisheries released a formal statement detailing their involvement:

NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement is investigating reports of a social media post appearing to show an intentional interaction between two individuals and an endangered Hawaiian monk seal on Kauaʻi. In the content, two individuals are seen posing for a photo in close proximity to the sleeping seal. It appears the seal is initially unaware of their presence. One individual appears to reach toward the seal, and the seal appears to react. The seal’s reaction captured in the photo is typical of a disturbance response often observed when a Hawaiian monk seal becomes aware of a person or dog in close proximity. An arched body and defensive head and mouth display is commonly observed when physical contact is made with a startled monk seal. NOAA Fisheries

Authorities urge anyone with details on the incident to contact the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement hotline at (800) 853-1964.