Vadym Oleynik, 32, a fitness influencer who describes himself as a calisthenics champion, and his partner Olena Kravchenko, a cosmetic doctor, were visiting Ras al Hadd, a coastal area known for its sea turtle nesting sites in late September, according to the New York Post.

They went to a site where environmental volunteers were monitoring nesting turtles.

Photos and videos uploaded for Oleynik's 200,000 Instagram followers showed the pair approaching a turtle that was laying eggs and taking turns to sit on its back.

Ukrainian fitness influencer Vadym Oleynik sits on a nesting sea turtle at Ras al Hadd in Oman. Photo by @vadym_oleynik/Instagram

In one clip, the fit-wit is seen holding one of the newly hatched turtles while trying to balance aboard his unwitting mount.

The footage quickly spread on social media, prompting users to accuse the couple of disturbing and mistreating the animal.

Olena Kravchenko sits on the back of a nesting sea turtle in Ras al Hadd, Oman. Photo by @vadym_oleynik/Instagram

Some users called for punishment for them, while others questioned how they had been allowed to approach the turtle so closely in a protected nesting area.

Italian conservation project Biologicamente, which was among the first organizations to draw attention to the incident, also criticized the group responsible for monitoring the site.

"An association run in a serious and professional manner, accompanied by a scientific committee, would never allow its volunteers to sit on the shell of a turtle to take a selfie," Biologicamente said on Facebook.

"We can't accept such an abhorrent level of ignorance."

Oman's Environmental Authority said the couple's actions violated the country's wildlife protection laws and that it had taken the "necessary legal action" against those involved, according to local media reports.

It said such behavior could threaten sea turtles and their nesting habitat.

Oleynik later apologized for his actions, saying he had not intended to harm the turtle and claimed he had been misled by the organization overseeing the visit.

"I didn't see the rules. I made a mistake and apologize to everyone."