Bhubaneswar: A YouTuber from Odisha’s Bargarh district has landed in controversy after allegedly painting an image of Lord Jagannath on the shell of a turtle and sharing the video as a reel on his Facebook account. The act has triggered outrage among wildlife activists, who claim it violates the Wildlife Protection Act.

According to a complaint filed by Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of Snake Helpline, the video shows an Indian Flapshell Turtle (a Schedule I protected species) with a painted image of Lord Jagannath on its back. The turtle is later seen being released into water. The video has since gone viral, prompting public backlash and condemnation from animal lovers.

Mallik has submitted a formal complaint to the Chief Wildlife Warden of Odisha, urging swift action against the YouTuber. He has also demanded that the viral video be immediately taken down and the accused identified and punished as per the law.

Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, any harm or misuse of Schedule I species—such as the Indian Flapshell Turtle—is a serious offence, punishable by up to seven years in prison, a fine of ₹1 lakh, or both.

A copy of the complaint has also been sent to the Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau for further investigation.