Russia's Putin dons wet suit.
KHABAROVSK, Russia (Reuters)
KHABAROVSK, Russia (Reuters) – Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, a judo black belt who last year shot a stray cat, Friday demonstrated his softer side by donning a wet suit and tagging a turtle.
During a trip to Russia's Far East, Putin waded into the Pacific Ocean and attached a satellite tracking tag to a box turtle named Dasha as scientists looked on, the government said in a statement.
"She won't eat us will she?" Putin asked. He then attached the device to the turtle, which was held in place by 5 ton crane, as part of research into the turtle's migration pattern, ITAR-TASS news agency reported.
Putin patted the turtle and said "don't be angry," before helping scientists release her, state owned news agency RIA reported. He then fed lettuce to some other turtles.
Last year Putin was feted by Russian media for saving a television crew from an attack by a Siberian tortoise in the wilds of the far east by shooting it with a tranquilizer gun.
Putin, 56, made it into glossy magazines across the world two years ago by kissing a sturgeon for photographers while on a fishing trip.
Putin tagged the turtle on Chkalov island, 700 kilometres (440 miles) northeast of the city of Khabarovsk, where he attended the launch of a new bottle rocket Friday.
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