The Golden Phoenix's video: Sea Turtle Dragged From the Sea For Selfies And Attacked After But Someone Did the Right Thing

A loggerhead turtle was discovered on a beach in Lebanon last week after tourists hauled the animal from the water to take selfies. The animal was swimming in water near Havana Beach in Beirut last Thursday, when according to witnesses a beach-goer pulled it out of the sea before throwing it on the sand. A crowd then gathered around the animal to take photos, as it was trodden on and, according to a witness, allegedly beaten with a stick. Fortunately, two passers-by noticed the defenceless animal, which is on the threatened species list, and took it to a safe area where they contacted the environmental organisation Green Area International to arrange a rescue. From there, animal charity Animals Lebanon was able to pick up the turtle and bring it back to their headquarters, where it is currently being rehabilitated. But shortly after its arrival at the centre, staff discovered a threatening injury to the animal's head, where it had been hit. It is now undergoing a course of antibiotics to prevent infection, with a view to releasing the animal into the wild once recovery is complete. Jason Mier, executive director of Animals Lebanon, told The Dodo: 'The turtle has a very evident spot on his skull, the very top of his head, where he has been hit. 'There is a noticeable depression in the head where the bone has been damaged and sea water is able to enter the bone. 'A small amount of pressure around this area and the water seeps back out.' The charity's vets are looking to reassess the turtle's health in 15 days once the course of antibiotics has finished. The incident echoes the moment a young dolphin died of suspected dehydration after being paraded around like a trophy and stroked by a crowd of sunbathers who then abandoned it on the sand last February. The group of people huddled around the mammal taking selfies after it was found on the Argentine beach resort of Santa Teresita in north-eastern Buenos Aires Province. Dozens of people crowded round to look at the squirming calf as they strained to touch it, and have their photos taken with it. Photos and video credits: Green Area International Jason Mier, Animals Lebanon Animals Lebanon Check out more ... Green Area website: http://greenarea.me/en/149347/sea-turtle-lebanon-victim-selfie-greenarea-international-seeks-rescue/ Animals Lebanon website: http://www.animalslebanon.org/dying-for-a-selfie To subscribe to Golden Phoenix Channel : http://www.youtube.com/user/GoldenPhoenix888?sub_confirmation=1 To view this channel : https://www.youtube.com/user/GoldenPhoenix888