Thessaloniki turtles painted with orange oil paint rescued and investigated

In the Evkarpia district of Thessaloniki, Greece, wildlife rescuers discovered four wild turtles whose shells had been coated with orange oil paint. The turtles were found in a neighbour's yard after rescuers had already removed five other turtles that had been kept as pets in a nearby house.

The Greek Rescue and Reintroduction Team of Wild Animals, represented by Stelios Geronymakis, reported the incident to the Forest Service and the local prosecutor. Possession of native wild turtles is illegal, and the painted shells pose serious health risks because the shell is living tissue. All nine turtles were transferred to a wildlife care centre for cleaning and treatment. Authorities have opened an investigation to identify the individuals responsible for the paint‑related animal cruelty.