PETALING JAYA, Malaysia - Netizens are upset over a photo of tourists posing
with a turtle which was uploaded by wildlife conservation group Rimba.
The photo shows three people with their hands placed on the turtle's shell
while they pose in the water, allegedly in the Perhentian Islands.
A 34-second video of the incident was also uploaded.
Rimba, which describes itself as a "group of conservation biologists",
criticised their actions.
"Harassing a turtle for your own enjoyment is not eco-tourism, folks!," it
wrote.
The photo was shared over 120 times on Facebook.
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Here are screenshots of the video posted by conservation group Rimba on their
Facebook page.
The group of snorkelers were believed to have posed for the camera in the
waters of Perhentian Islands in Malaysia.
A guide appears to have assisted in bringing the turtle up to the surface of
the water for the tourists to get close to it.
In the YouTube video, a couple of tourists were seen to have put their hands on
the turtle and even rested their arms on the animal's back.
One of the tourists who reacted about the experience of being able to see and
touch the turtle.
Another tourist reacts to touching the turtle.
A couple of tourists took turns to stroke the turtle's back.
Tourists posing for the camera with the turtle.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) communications head Andrew Sebastian said they
had lodged a report with the Marine Parks Department.
