MUSCAT: A man seen in a widely circulated video mistreating a turtle at Ras Al Hadd has been issued two violations and referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal action, an Environment Authority official said.

Nizar bin Salim Al Fannah Al Araimi, Director of the Environment Department in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, said the man entered the site at night without permission before the incident, which occurred on Friday, September 25.

Speaking in an interview with Al Wisal Radio, Al Araimi said authorities moved to take action after the video spread rapidly across social media.

The man was summoned and questioned before two violations were issued against him, one for entering the site without a permit and another for mistreating wildlife. The case was subsequently referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal proceedings.

Al Araimi said the man expressed regret during questioning, but stressed that an apology did not bring the matter to an end as the conduct constituted a violation of regulations governing the protection of wildlife.

The video triggered widespread criticism in Oman and abroad, he added.

Al Araimi said entry to turtle sites requires a permit from the Environment Authority. The incident took place in an area relatively far from locations where field monitoring teams are concentrated, which allowed the man to access the site during the night.

He said turtles are particularly sensitive to human interference during nesting and hatching periods, making it essential for visitors and tourists to follow regulations when visiting beaches that serve as natural habitats.

Ras Al Hadd, Masirah and several other coastal areas across Oman are among the country’s important turtle habitats and nesting grounds for different species.

Al Araimi urged citizens, residents and tourists to treat beaches and wildlife sites as sensitive environments and comply with the instructions governing access and conduct. Visiting environmental and tourism sites is permitted within the applicable rules, he said, but disregarding those rules was not acceptable.

He also pointed to the scale of the video’s circulation, saying the person who posted it has more than half a million followers on social media, helping the footage spread rapidly and draw significant public reaction. Comments posted on the account itself included widespread criticism of the behaviour shown in the video.

Al Araimi described the incident as an individual act and said the Environment Authority was committed to addressing it firmly and transparently.

He added that the authority hires around 15 people on temporary contracts each year during turtle season to support environmental monitoring at nesting sites in South Al Sharqiyah, an arrangement that has been in place for about six years.

Al Araimi urged visitors to familiarise themselves with the rules before entering environmental or tourism sites containing wildlife and to support conservation efforts rather than becoming a source of disturbance or threat to the animals.