A shocking new trend spreading across social media has sparked urgent warnings from wildlife experts, as it threatens the lives of innocent turtles — all for the sake of decoration.
Images of brightly coloured turtle shells may seem playful or artistic to some, but experts say the practice of painting turtle shells is not only cruel — it can be deadly.
“It’s not uncommon for people to paint turtles with nail polish or bright colours, sometimes to match their favourite football team, or just for fun,” said Shane Davies from Turtle Rescues NSW in an interview with Yahoo News Australia. “But what they don’t realise is that they’re slowly killing these animals.”
A Deadly Decoration
What looks like a harmless coat of colour hides a grim reality: paint blocks turtles from absorbing vital sunlight, which is crucial for their development. Without it, they can suffer severe illness, deformities, and even death.
One viral image showed a tiny turtle with a grotesquely deformed shell — the tragic result of paint interfering with its natural growth. “If you’re wondering why this turtle ended up like that, it’s because the paint obstructs the absorption of the vitamins needed for these species to develop properly,” the post read.
Davies, while acknowledging he hasn’t seen a case quite as severe in person, confirmed the damage is very real. “It’s not good for the turtle for its shell to be painted at all,” he said. “It is an act of cruelty and can cause illness to the turtle due to toxins in the paint.”
Paint Isn’t Just on the Surface — It Soaks In
A turtle’s shell is porous — meaning anything painted on it doesn’t just sit on top, it’s absorbed into their body. This allows toxins from paint or nail polish to enter their bloodstream, leading to growth stunting, respiratory issues, deformities, and a slow, painful decline.
“Once that poison gets through the shell,” Davies warned, “there’s no easy way back.”
Social Media Reacts: ‘This Is Horrifying’
The internet has been left stunned and disgusted. Social media users were quick to express their fury.
“What kind of idiot paints a turtle’s shell?” one asked.
“This is horrifying,” another commented.
Many labelled it exactly what it is — animal cruelty — condemning those who view it as harmless fun or a quirky social media trend.
Others pointed out that it shouldn’t even need to be said. “Isn’t it just common sense not to mess with poor animals like this?”
Turtles Face Enough Threats Already
Australian turtles are already fighting for survival in an increasingly dangerous world. Ocean lovers and wildlife warriors are constantly working to protect them — but human carelessness keeps making it harder.
Crab pots, fishing hooks, and tangled lines are already killing turtles in alarming numbers. Grahame Lloyd from Sea Shepherd has seen it firsthand. “I’m constantly finding turtles strangled in crab nets,” he revealed.
At Taronga Wildlife Hospital, Rescue and Rehabilitation Coordinator Libby Hall says fishing gear is harming more animals than ever before. “It’s an increasing problem,” she said.
Don’t Be Part of the Problem
What may seem like a fun idea or a colourful photo opportunity can result in irreversible harm — even death — for these gentle creatures. Experts are urging people to speak out, educate others, and stop the spread of this horrifying trend.
“If you care about turtles,” Davies said, “leave their shells as nature made them.”
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