The lack of environmental awareness in Iraq and the absence of institutions that are concerned with the protection of animals, in addition to the weakness of the law, have led to the death of hundreds of living beings, especially rare ones. The use of weapons and modern hunting techniques is common, and the aggressors treat the environment violently.
Early this year, while Zamel al-Issa, a farmer, was wandering through his field on the Hillah River in the center of Babel province, he spotted a big turtle crawling between the shrubs.