Bhubaneswar: A YouTuber from Odisha’s Bargarh district is embroiled in a controversy for allegedly painting an image of Lord Jagannath on the shell of a turtle and sharing the video on social media.
The incident has sparked outrage among wildlife activists, who claim it violates the Wildlife Protection Act. Wildlife expert Subhendu Mallik, who is also general secretary of Snake Helpline, has lodged a complaint with the Chief Wildlife Warden.
Demanding swift action against the YouTuber, he has also sought steps to take down the video and punish the accused as per the law.
As per the complaint, the video posted by the accused on Facebook shows an Indian Flap shell Turtle (a Schedule I protected species) with a painted image of Lord Jagannath on its back. The turtle is later seen being released into water. The video, which has gone viral, triggered public backlash and condemnation from animal lovers.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, any harm or misuse of Schedule I species—such as the Indian Flap shell Turtle—is a serious offence, punishable by up to seven years in prison, a fine of Rs one lakh, or both.
A copy of the complaint has also been forwarded to the Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau for further investigation.