Ukrainians who rode pregnant sea turtle in Oman have been sentenced to one month in prison. VIDEO+PHOTOS
A court in Oman has found two Ukrainian tourists guilty of climbing onto a sea turtle’s shell and picking up its hatchlings within a nature reserve. Each was sentenced to a fine and one month’s imprisonment, though the prison sentences have been suspended.
This was reported by Censor.NET, citing the Times of Oman.
According to the prosecution, the Ukrainians disturbed and harmed sea turtles that were laying eggs. The tourists touched the animals, climbed onto their shells and picked up newly hatched hatchlings on the reserve’s beach.
The couple also published photographs showing a man and a woman taking turns sitting on the shell of a pregnant sea turtle, preventing her from moving and holding a hatchling in their hands.
Following the publication of this material, the court additionally found the Ukrainians guilty of using information technology to create and disseminate content that breaches public order.
Each was sentenced to a fine of 100 Omani rials – around 230 euros – and one month’s imprisonment. However, the court combined the sentences and suspended the prison terms.
The court’s decision was criticised by the author of the Italian environmental project Biologicamente, who had previously drawn attention to the tourists’ behaviour. In his view, the punishment is too lenient and will not have a sufficient deterrent effect.
As a reminder, photos and videos of Ukrainians riding a sea turtle in Oman went viral in late September. The material was subsequently removed from social media, and the man publicly apologised, stating that he had not intended to harm the animal.
