HONOLULU (AP) – A 19-year-old college student pleaded no contest Thursday in a case involving seabirds killed at a Hawaii nature reserve.
Christian Gutierrez pleaded no contest to animal cruelty, theft and other charges. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss 14 remaining counts.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources began investigating after three Laysan albatrosses were found dead in December 2015 at the Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve. There were 12 attending adult albatrosses missing, which was concerning because the birds never leave an egg unattended, the department said. There were also 15 destroyed nests with smashed, dead or missing eggs, the department added.
A photo from the department showed a bird’s severed leg.
The Laysan albatross is a federally protected species.