The young Cuban content creator José Ibrain Venereo Jiménez (@jose_ibrain_venereo_jimenez) has touched the hearts of thousands online after posting an emotional video in which he attempts to release his three turtles into a river, but one of them made an unexpected decision.
Animal lover, José decided it was time to return the freedom to the jicoteas he had cared for in his home for years. He chose the right habitat and made sure they were tortoises that could find their sustenance in the wild.
In the video, he is seen releasing the first two turtles, which immediately dive into the water and disappear, but the third one features a moment that has gone viral.
This jicotea, of considerable size, was also gently placed by José in the water, after bidding her farewell and asking her to never let herself be caught.
However, instead of swimming towards freedom, the animal floated for a few seconds and turned its body to face the young man, in an action that has been interpreted by many as a gesture of connection and gratitude.
Moved by the reaction of his jicotea, José asked her to leave because he felt sad about the farewell. She stayed there, motionless, with her little head out searching for him with her gaze. He couldn't take it anymore; he pulled her out of the water and embraced her, deeply touched.
"This turtle was caught by my dad and he wanted to sell it to a sorcerer. I bought it from him, and it's been less than two years in my home. I decided to release it because it was the right thing to do. It didn't seem fair for it to spend its whole life in a house, but... We took it back home again," said the young man.
The recording was casual and has generated a wave of reactions on social media. One user commented, "The first time you chose her, and the second time she chose you. It's the best video of the day."
The link between humans and animals remains an endless source of touching stories, and this one is no exception.
José's decision has been celebrated by many as an act of conscience and respect for animals, even though the turtle seems to have decided that her home is with her favorite person.
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