Girls snapchat killing a turtle

TWO girls allegedly killed a turtle on purpose by driving over it, and snapchatted the sick incident for good measure. WARNING: Graphic content.

Girls slammed after snapchatting their efforts to kill a turtle

WARNING: Graphic content

TWO young women from Alabama have allegedly killed a snapping turtle by driving over it for “absolutely no reason”.

The shocking video was posted on social media by a concerned member of the community, who saw the video on the alleged attacker’s Snapchat. The video has already gained over 40,000 views.

“Something needs to be done about this,” the poster wrote.

“It is premeditated animal cruelty, and [they] posted it on social media like it’s funny.”

The video — a series of Snapchat stories — initially reveals the uninjured turtle, which one commenter states, judging by its size, is over 80 years old. The first video features the caption: “Excuse my language, but this is not a turtle. You belong in the upside down.”

“He’s getting really, really close to me,” one woman can be heard saying. “I think he’s going to jump up in this vehicle.”

“Just run him over,” another woman suggests.

“Yeah. Let’s just run him over for real.”

The video then shows their car reversing. While the video doesn’t show the women actually running the animal over, the conversation in the second video strongly suggests as much.

“Can someone please explain to Cortney that this is not a turtle, because turtles do not have this come out whenever you run them over.”

The turtle, now evidently dead, is filmed at various gruesome angles, revealing intestines and large amounts of blood.

The snaps show the turtle squashed on the road after the women said they would kill it.

The women have been slammed in their local community and could now face charges.

The two young women from Scottsboro in the north of Alabama have allegedly received numerous death threats for their actions.

“People are saying they’re going to kill my family. That I need to kill myself. That they’re going to burn my house. I don’t feel safe at all,” one of the women told WAAY 31.

They explained they weren’t trying to hurt the turtle — they were trying to save it.

“I love turtles. That’s why we were getting out and trying to save it, but once it started snapping at me, I was like, oh my god. Just forget it. Run it over. Let’s go.”

Thousands have taken to the social media post to condemn the women for their “heartless” actions.

“Who the f**k does that? Can I just run her over because I feel like it?” one person wrote.

“It’s one thing to be driving and hit an animal by accident, but when you do it on purpose, you are plain cruel.”

“Well, holy crap. I’d hate if they loved me, they might run me over, then joke about my death, too,” another wrote.

Typically, common snapping turtles feel less fear and aggression. When encountered with an unfamiliar species — like humans — they will often simply become curious, and may even bump their nose on a person’s leg.

While they’re not a protected species, their numbers have declined due to the pet trade and habitat degradation, and are listed as a “special concern” in Canada’s 2011 Species at Risk Act. However, when threatened, the common snapping turtle can become aggressive, and there are reported cases of them snapping a human finger clean off.

Conservation enforcement officer Alan Yates of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resource was angry when he saw the video on Facebook.

“I did not like what I saw” he told news.com.au

Mr Yates is part of the team investigating the incident, and said the women responsible have been issued with a citation to appear in court.

“We have been investigating this and we have met with the girls. Their arrest warrants have been issued, and I am waiting to meet with them and serve the warrants,” Mr Yates said.

“They have not been charged with animal cruelty. We have charged them with one of our regulations: taking or attempting to take the life of an animal by aid of a motor vehicle.”

Mr Yates said fines are the most likely course of action for the offenders. Should they both appear in court when requested, a decision is likely to be made some time in the next month.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department told news.com.au they are not investigating the incident, but have referred the matter to the Alabama Department of Conservation and

Natural Resource.

PETA spokesperson Emma Hurst encourages anyone with further information to contact authorities immediately.

“It’s detestable that anyone would derive enjoyment from tormenting and killing an animal,” she told News.com.au.

“If she ran over this turtle, as she bragged about having done, then this woman shows a dangerous lack of empathy.”