A Czech tourist has sparked outrage in Egypt after carving the name “Láďa” into the shell of a sea turtle, leaving the animal with a painful injury and the risk of infection.

The act, filmed by local divers, was widely condemned after the video surfaced online.

The footage was sent to Barbora Hulková, a Czech influencer living in Egypt who posts under the name “Czech in Egypt.” She shared the video on her social media channels, warning that the carving was not only cruel but could endanger the turtle’s life.

“The shell is a living part of the body, full of nerves and blood vessels. This is like cutting your skin under a fingernail—it hurts. Besides pain, the turtle now faces the risk of infection that could kill it,” Hulková wrote.

Marine biologists explain that a turtle’s shell is not just a protective shield but a sensitive living tissue safeguarding vital organs. Damage to it leaves the animal vulnerable to predators and long-term health complications.

Close human contact is also highly stressful for turtles, often altering their natural behavior.

This is not the first case Hulková has highlighted. In another recent video, she documented a tourist from Germany stomping on a turtle underwater—an action that can cause serious injury or even death to the animal.

Strict protection rules apply in Egypt, particularly in marine reserves. Tourists are prohibited from touching turtles, corals, starfish, and other forms of marine life.

Conservationists stress that breaking these rules is both harmful to the ecosystem and punishable by law.

“This is not a joke, not a souvenir, and not a cute gesture. It is the height of cruelty and human stupidity,” Hulková added. Her post received hundreds of responses from users condemning the act and calling for tougher penalties against offenders.

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