Oman takes legal action after tourist is filmed sitting on sea turtle at Ras Al Hadd nesting site in video

Oman’s Environment Authority has taken legal action against a person shown in a video circulating on social media interacting with a sea turtle in the Ras Al Hadd area, one of the country’s sea turtle nesting sites.

The footage shows a man sitting on the shell of a sea turtle and holding small turtles in his hands, while the adult turtle appears to attempt to move away. A woman standing nearby is seen laughing and continuing to record the incident.

Screenshots and video clips of the incident were subsequently circulated on social media.

The people shown in the footage were identified as Ukrainian tourists Vadym Oliinyk and Olena Kravchenko. The Italian conservation project Biologicamente also named the two in its social media posts.

However, the identities have not been officially confirmed by Oman’s authorities.

Environment Authority confirms legal action

The Environment Authority said it had been monitoring a video circulating on social media showing a tourist engaging in conduct that disturbed sea turtles in the Ras Al Hadd area.

The authority confirmed that it had taken the necessary legal action against the individual concerned in accordance with Oman’s laws and regulations governing wildlife protection.

The authority stressed that it would not tolerate practices that harm wildlife or threaten natural habitats.

The authority urged citizens, residents and tourists to comply with rules governing visits to sea turtle nesting sites, including refraining from touching, approaching or otherwise disturbing the animals.

It also called on visitors to report violations or practices that could harm wildlife, emphasising that protecting biodiversity is a shared responsibility.

Footage linked to Ukrainian tourists

According to the Ukrainian publication Pravda, the incident occurred in the Ras Al Hadd area, a known sea turtle nesting location in Oman.

The report said the video was filmed by athlete Vadym Oliinyk and cosmetologist Olena Kravchenko. It said the footage showed Oliinyk sitting on the turtle's shell and holding hatchlings while the animal attempted to move away.

The footage and photographs involving the turtle were later removed after the incident attracted attention.

Biologicamente, an Italian environmental project, said in a social media post that the tourists were in Oman with volunteers from an organisation involved in monitoring sea turtle nesting activity. 

Oliinyk apologises

Following the criticism, Oliinyk apologised for the incident in Instagram Stories and acknowledged that he had made a mistake.

He said he had not intended to cause the turtle harm or pain.

Omani authorities reiterated that visitors to nesting sites must observe sea turtles from a safe distance and avoid interfering with the animals' behaviour.

Biologicamente reported the alleged detention, while Pravda said it had contacted Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry for clarification and was awaiting a response.

There is no official confirmation in the reports provided that the two Ukrainians were detained at the airport.

Omani authorities have confirmed only that legal action was taken against the person shown in the video.