Ukrainian athlete Vadym Oleinik and his partner are facing legal action in Oman after images showed them sitting on the shell of a sea turtle and holding its newly hatched babies.
The incident was brought to attention by the Italian conservation project Biologicamente, which accused the couple of mistreating the endangered animal. The organization said Oleinik shared a video of the incident with his social media audience while visiting Oman on what was reportedly described as a conservation mission.
Biologicamente warned that sea turtles should not be touched or pressured when they come ashore to nest, stressing that their shells are not meant to be used as seats or benches.
The incident sparked widespread criticism. Oleinik later posted a video apologizing and acknowledged that he had failed to follow the rules governing the handling of sea turtles, saying he had made a mistake.
Oman’s Environment Authority said it had followed up on the incident and that the appropriate legal measures had been taken against those involved in accordance with the country’s laws and regulations. The authority also reaffirmed its opposition to practices that could harm wildlife or threaten natural habitats.
