Turtles painted with oil paint: rescued from fire, abused by humans

Four turtles rescued from a fire-stricken area in northern Greece were found to have been abused by human thugs who painted their shells with orange oil paint.The discovery prompted the intervention of the Prosecutor’s Office in Thessaloniki on Tuesday. The rescuers informed the owners that turtles are wild animals and must live in their natural environment. While the Forest Service was in the process of informing the authorities about the registration and reintroduction of the five turtles into the wild, rescuers discovered four more turtles in a neighboring yard, which had been painted with orange oil paint. Experts warn that oil paint is particularly toxic to turtles and can cause serious damage to their health. The competent prosecutor has already been informed of the incident, while the competent authorities are investigating the conditions under which the painted turtles were found and are looking for those responsible for their abuse.