Authorities in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, stopped a man who was moved to release a snapping turtle into the wild because it was "crying."

The man surnamed Zhou said he spotted the 7-kilogram alligator snapping turtle while browsing a local market and noticed it's eyes were "brimming with tears."

"It looked as if it was begging to return to nature," Zhou told media.

Zhou bought it and traveled to a local temple to perform a "life release" - the Buddhist practice of buying and freeing animals meant for slaughter.

However, the temple informed Zhou there were no life release ceremonies that day and a local shop owner suggested he call animal control.

Arriving at the scene, authorities prevented Zhou from releasing the reptile. A local resident volunteered to care for the wayward turtle.

Lin Guohong with the local forestry bureau, warned that snapping turtles are an alien species that can potentially destroy the local ecosystem.

Lin also said the eyes of turtles tear up after long periods away from water.

Strait News