This is the shocking moment a snorkelling tourist stands on a turtle to ride it like a hover board.<br /><br />The group were paddling off the coast of Lambai Island in Taiwan when the beautiful marine creature swam under them on April 2.<br /><br />Footage from a swimmer who was in the area at the same time shows how one of the tourists reaches down to stroke the green sea turtle's shell.<br /><br />He then lowers his feet and stands on the hapless turtle while trying to ride it like a hover board. <br /><br />The abused turtle appears to be in distress as it uses its flippers to support itself against a nearby rock.<br /><br />Marco Weizhong, who recorded the video on a GoPro underwater camera, can be seen trying to get the attention of the snorkeler to stop him from hurting the turtle.<br /><br />Marco then swims over and shouts at the tourist while telling him to stop.<br /><br />The ocean lover said he was shocked to have witnessed the incident and reported it to the Taiwan's Tourism Bureau for investigation.<br /><br />He said: "I will not stand by and watch this disgusting behaviour. We all need to respect wildlife and protect the environment."<br /><br />Marco said the tour guide guided his group towards the turtles.<br /><br />He added: ''Not only did tourists touch the turtles, but they even stepped on it with their feet.<br /><br />''As an ocean lover, I really cannot bare to see this kind of behavior. I sent a report letter to the government, but I received a notice saying that because it is not an offence actively happening, it will be difficult for them to punish them retrospectively.<br /><br />''Therefore, I want to try and stop this behavior through the power of public opinion and call on the public to respect wildlife and protect the ecological environment.''<br /><br />In response to his complaint and outrage in local media, the Marine Patrol Administration later said that they will monitor the area search for the still-unknown tourist that stood on the turtle.<br /><br />Under Taiwan's Wildlife Conservation Law, offenders who harass, hunt, or slaughter animals can be imprisoned of up to two years and pay fines up to 300,000 NTD.
