Authorities are investigating a viral video of foreign tourists handling a sea turtle near Cape Panwa, Phuket. This raised immediate concerns over the welfare of protected marine wildlife. The footage, shared by The Phuket Times on May 23, shows tourists holding the turtle, prompting online debate about potential harm and legal implications.

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The video sparked mixed reactions. Some criticised the tourists for interfering with marine life, while others noted the turtle appeared unharmed. Local fishermen indicated the turtle might have been a young one displaced by rough seas. They said these animals usually steer clear of people and boats.

Environmental accounts warn that disturbing wildlife, such as sea turtles, can incur serious penalties. While Thailand's Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act focuses on hunting and possession, causing harm or distress could potentially breach its regulations. Experts caution that human interference, even if not immediately harmful, might disrupt marine ecosystems over time.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement, but police and relevant agencies are investigating and considering legal actions. This incident is similar to one last November on Similan Island, where a tourist fed a turtle a rubber wristband. Although officials intervened, details about any arrest remain undisclosed.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 22 May 2026

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It is a way of thinking and of course not Thai people are doing it... This week I was in the shopping mall and there were several animals that should not be kept as a domestic animal such as a meerkat and turtles.... But now a tourists is touching one a lot of people stand up... maybe they should stand up to other things and get a life...

Of course Thai set an example, what about all the s**t they discharge into the sea including plastic bags of ALL variety.

They are not doing anything bad to the turtle. Welcome to Thailand, and for the love of God don´t touch any animals then we will prosecute you to the full extent of the made up law.

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

They are not doing anything bad to the turtle. Welcome to Thailand, and for the love of God don´t touch any animals then we will prosecute you to the full extent of the made up law.

The law protecting turtles in Thailand is real, not "made up".

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The law protecting turtles in Thailand is real, not "made up".

Sure, it is but that regards totally different things.

In short this is what it´s about:

Law protecting turtles in Thailand

In Thailand, the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act (WARPA) is a key legal framework that protects various wildlife, including turtles. This act empowers the Department of Fisheries to protect animals and their products listed for preservation and protection, which includes endangered species such as marine mammals, turtles, coral, and seashells. The act aims to prevent the illegal trade and exploitation of these species, ensuring their conservation and protection.

The Wildlife Reservation and Protection Act also requires any person intending to carry conserved wild animals, protected wild animals, or their products to notify the competent official at a wild animal checkpoint. This regulation is part of Thailand's commitment to legalizing the trade in CITES-listed species and ensuring that no illegal activities related to wildlife conservation occur.

Thailand's legal framework is crucial in protecting turtles and other wildlife from illegal activities and ensuring their survival in the wild. The act's enforcement and the support of various government agencies play a significant role in maintaining the integrity of Thailand's marine resources and environments.

If you wish the full English version of the act, you got it here. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tha201932.pdf - There you go! :-)

Social media has a lot to answer for, and none of it is good.

Saw a Thai Mother dragging her kid by the hand along the pavement today, could have been seven but more likely a six year old - kid was operating his smartphone with one hand and obviously engrossed by God-knows-what on the phone.

Never mind the freaking turtles - stop the child abuse.

6 hours ago, Rams86 said:

Of course Thai set an example, what about all the s**t they discharge into the sea including plastic bags of ALL variety.

Plenty of Indians discharge into the sea and nothing is done about it, so I see your point.

41 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

Social media has a lot to answer for, and none of it is good.

Saw a Thai Mother dragging her kid by the hand along the pavement today, could have been seven but more likely a six year old - kid was operating his smartphone with one hand and obviously engrossed by God-knows-what on the phone.

Never mind the freaking turtles - stop the child abuse.

Thailand is a childhood trauma factory. It's amazing that the people have turned out to be as lovely as they are. Maybe it's Buddhism because other countries like this have horrendous rates of violent crime.

7 minutes ago, flaming dragon said:

Maybe it's Buddhism because other countries like this have horrendous rates of violent crime.

Japan? As for the turtle bit of a nothing burger IMO.

Edited May 25May 25 by dinsdale

7 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Japan? As for the turtle bit of a nothing burger IMO.

Japan doesn't traumatise its children.

The things some of the Thai women I've known have gone through is horrifying. Isaan used to be dirt poor. People shook the trees to eat the bugs that fell out of them. People slag Thaksin but he brought in universal 30 baht healthcare. One previous gf's father got cancer. They couldn't afford a hospital so he suffered for a bit. One morning he wasn't in bed. They went outside to look for him and he was hanging from a tree in front of the house so as not to take food out of the 3 children's mouths. Life didn't get any better for a long time, but they carried on. Thailand is full of stories like this.

I agree, the turtle story is nothing. A group of Russians (this time) fascinated by nature that they'd seen on TV. A generation ago that turtle would have gone into the pot.

8 minutes ago, flaming dragon said:

Isaan used to be dirt poor. People shook the trees to eat the bugs that fell out of them.

Issan is still the poorest region in Thailand. As for shaking bugs out of a tree to eat so what. Thais eat what we would consider weeds. Free nutrition.

Edited May 25May 25 by dinsdale

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Thais eat what we would consider weeds. Free nutrition

My bud and I were riding down a dirt road outside of Siem Reap in a remorque and we stopped to pee. While we were zipping up, my driver had wandered off and started pulling leaves off a bush which he started to eat. They were tasty. He smiled and said he didnt know what it was but it was good for salad.

There used to be a vacant fenced off field near my condo in Talat Phlu. The fence was that corrugated iron stuff and this fern like plant was growing like a weed between the fence and road. Guess it was, in fact, a weed. Ladies would jump off motorbikes, pick some random shoots based on some formulae unknown to anybody but Thais and go on their way.

I used to like dandelion salad but I worry about weed killer.

Edited May 25May 25 by Yagoda

2 hours ago, Yagoda said:

My bud and I were riding down a dirt road outside of Siem Reap in a remorque and we stopped to pee. While we were zipping up, my driver had wandered off and started pulling leaves off a bush which he started to eat. They were tasty. He smiled and said he didnt know what it was but it was good for salad.

There used to be a vacant fenced off field near my condo in Talat Phlu. The fence was that corrugated iron stuff and this fern like plant was growing like a weed between the fence and road. Guess it was, in fact, a weed. Ladies would jump off motorbikes, pick some random shoots based on some formulae unknown to anybody but Thais and go on their way.

I used to like dandelion salad but I worry about weed killer.

Obviously off topic but morning glory is classified as a noxious weed in OZ. Here it's food. Another dish I really like especially with bits of crispy pork belly. Pad pak bung fai dang moo krob.

Edited May 25May 25 by dinsdale

4 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Obviously off topic but morning glory is classified as a noxious weed in OZ. Here it's food. Another dish I really like especially with bits of crispy pork belly. Pad pak bung fai dang moo krob.

Water spinach, very healthy/

15 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is a way of thinking and of course not Thai people are doing it... This week I was in the shopping mall and there were several animals that should not be kept as a domestic animal such as a meerkat and turtles.... But now a tourists is touching one a lot of people stand up... maybe they should stand up to other things and get a life...

15 hours ago, Rams86 said:

Of course Thai set an example, what about all the s**t they discharge into the sea including plastic bags of ALL variety.

14 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

They are not doing anything bad to the turtle. Welcome to Thailand, and for the love of God don´t touch any animals then we will prosecute you to the full extent of the made up law.

All distractions from the issue.
Of course they're harming the turtle, any touch is harming it.

Well better than the Thai's, they would have it over a grill!

8 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Issan is still the poorest region in Thailand. As for shaking bugs out of a tree to eat so what. Thais eat what we would consider weeds. Free nutrition.

Better to shake them out of a tree than pay for it at a market. Thais eat bugs, field rats and frogs out of CHOICE. They taste good…..or so they say.

6 hours ago, Yagoda said:

My bud and I were riding down a dirt road outside of Siem Reap in a remorque and we stopped to pee. While we were zipping up, my driver had wandered off and started pulling leaves off a bush which he started to eat. They were tasty. He smiled and said he didnt know what it was but it was good for salad.

There used to be a vacant fenced off field near my condo in Talat Phlu. The fence was that corrugated iron stuff and this fern like plant was growing like a weed between the fence and road. Guess it was, in fact, a weed. Ladies would jump off motorbikes, pick some random shoots based on some formulae unknown to anybody but Thais and go on their way.

I used to like dandelion salad but I worry about weed killer.

I worry about the pee from guys who stop to relieve themselves 😬

41 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Better to shake them out of a tree than pay for it at a market. Thais eat bugs, field rats and frogs out of CHOICE. They taste good…..or so they say.

Agree. BBQ rice paddy rats are delicious. As for frogs I like pad krapow gop. Bugs I'm not a big fan of but will eat them because it pleases Thai people to see farang eat them. As for turtles, turtle soup is a SE/East Asian dish but as far as I know not big in Thailand.

18 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

They are not doing anything bad to the turtle. Welcome to Thailand, and for the love of God don´t touch any animals then we will prosecute you to the full extent of the made up law.

It certainly is harming the very young turtle . It’s being handled and lifted out of its natural environment causing very significant stress. Stress can kill animals.

As a diver it was always "look, don’t touch"

Reasons to avoid handling sea turtles:

1. Stress and injury to the turtle

   • Being picked up or restrained can cause significant stress.

   • Rough or incorrect handling may injure their flippers, shell, neck, or internal organs.

   • Stress can affect feeding, nesting, and overall health.

2. Disruption of natural behavior

   • Touching or moving turtles can interrupt feeding, resting, mating, or nesting activities.

   • Disturbing nesting females may cause them to abandon nesting attempts.

   • Hatchlings can become disoriented if handled instead of finding the ocean naturally.

3. Risk of disease transmission

   • Humans can transfer bacteria, fungi, or other pathogens to turtles.

   • Turtles can also carry bacteria such as Salmonella, which can infect people.

12 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Issan is still the poorest region in Thailand. As for shaking bugs out of a tree to eat so what. Thais eat what we would consider weeds. Free nutrition.

Kind of a strawman post. Whatever.

Look, don’t touch. That’s always been the golden rule with nature.

But once again we’re seeing the familiar social media pile-on - a sanctimonious, nationalistic wave of anti-foreigner outrage that’s wildly disproportionate when placed in the context of everything else happening here, particularly animal cruelty.

Spend ten minutes walking through Chatuchak market and you’ll see far worse treatment of animals than tourists mishandling marine life for a photo.

As Gknrd bluntly put it: "they [Thai's] would have it over a grill"

And, yes, historically, sea turtles were eaten across parts of Asia. But, it’s no longer considered a delicacy by most people and all native sea turtles are now protected species under Thai law - of course, illegal poaching and underground consumption still reportedly occur - particularly among older generations and during traditional ceremonies.

What’s more commonly seen today are freshwater softshell turtle dishes (ตะพาบน้ำ), sometimes even listed on menus as “Thai turtle soup”. That's not the same these turtles which are protected and illegal to sell openly.

None of this excuses tourists harassing wildlife. Handling sea creatures for selfies is stupid and irresponsible. But the selective outrage is hard to ignore when compared to the industrial damage done by polluted rivers, overfishing, coastal runoff, untreated effluent, and the cruelty routinely seen in live animal markets.

What we’re really seeing is a reaction amplified because the offenders are foreigners. They sound Russian, so anti-foreign sentiment is easier to blow-up. If they were British, the usual “drunk Brits with tattoos” narrative would appear instead. The predictable “deport and ban” brigade is never far behind.

The incident was wrong. But any hysteria around it is out of proportion - they picked up a turtle.

20 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is a way of thinking and of course not Thai people are doing it... This week I was in the shopping mall and there were several animals that should not be kept as a domestic animal such as a meerkat and turtles.... But now a tourists is touching one a lot of people stand up... maybe they should stand up to other things and get a life...

Good to a market, and you will see many Turtles, and Tortoise, offered for sale not as pets but for cooking, that is Thai culture. It seems to be somewhat hypocritical to get upset about tourists enjoying an encounter with a free swimming animal.

On 5/25/2026 at 11:31 AM, snoop1130 said:

Authorities are investigating a viral video of foreign tourists handling a sea turtle near Cape Panwa, Phuket. This raised immediate concerns over the welfare of protected marine wildlife. The footage, shared by The Phuket Times on May 23, shows tourists holding the turtle, prompting online debate about potential harm and legal implications.

Get today's headlines by email

The video sparked mixed reactions. Some criticised the tourists for interfering with marine life, while others noted the turtle appeared unharmed. Local fishermen indicated the turtle might have been a young one displaced by rough seas. They said these animals usually steer clear of people and boats.

Environmental accounts warn that disturbing wildlife, such as sea turtles, can incur serious penalties. While Thailand's Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act focuses on hunting and possession, causing harm or distress could potentially breach its regulations. Experts caution that human interference, even if not immediately harmful, might disrupt marine ecosystems over time.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement, but police and relevant agencies are investigating and considering legal actions. This incident is similar to one last November on Similan Island, where a tourist fed a turtle a rubber wristband. Although officials intervened, details about any arrest remain undisclosed.

Join the discussion?

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 22 May 2026

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Cossacks. 😡