Four people have been arrested by police in connection with the alleged abuse of a turtle in a coastal area of the Paphos district.
Police said the arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation into the incident, which was reported on Monday afternoon.
The case is being handled by the animal police, while inquiries continue into the conditions and cause of the turtle’s death. According to police, the investigation began after a complaint was received at around 1.30pm on Monday.
The report alleged that a lot of individuals had abused a turtle in a seaside area of the Paphos district. Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene to conduct examinations.
During inquiries in the wider area, police gathered information that led to the identification of the individuals involved. The four suspects were later located at their place of work.
The dead turtle was also found at that location and was taken by the police as evidence for the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Chlorakas Community Council has expressed regret following the release of a video linked to the alleged turtle abuse case under investigation by Paphos police, in which employees of the council are reported to be involved.
In a statement, the council said such actions do not reflect its principles, values, or way of operating. It said that, under standard practice, employees attend locations where dead animals are found in order to remove them, as the turtle was initially believed to be dead.
The Chlorakas Community Council said it will await the completion of the police investigation, as well as the results of scientific examinations by the relevant departments. It added that it will then review the serious incident and assess whether any disciplinary offences arise, based on the findings.
Police said examinations are ongoing as they seek to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident and the turtle’s death.