Meiqin Chen, 57, of Hilo was cited this morning by state law enforcement officers after allegedly removing a nene gosling from Wailoa River State Recreation Area in Hilo.
Multiple witnesses reported Chen to staff at the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the Hawaii Police Department. The witnesses said she put the gosling in her vehicle and drove away.
Witnesses were able to provide a vehicle description and license plate number to law enforcement. HPD located the vehicle in Keaau, approximately 10 miles from the Wailoa River State Recreation Area.
During a traffic stop, an HPD officer allegedly saw the gosling in an onion bag in a bucket in the rear of the vehicle.
DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement personnel arrived on scene with a DOFAW biologist, confirming it was a nene gosling.
Chen was cited for three offenses related to the incident, and she has an initial court date on May 19 in Hilo District Court.