An endangered loggerhead sea turtle is being nursed back to health after it was dragged from the ocean and violently beaten with sticks on a beach in Lebanon.

After pulling the turtle from the waves, a group of tourists took selfies with the animal, stood on its shell and bashed it so hard its skull was cracked, a charity group has claimed.

A statement on the Animals Lebanon's website listed the full extent of the turtle's injuries.

"The turtle has been given antibiotics and she is being taken for x-ray of her head," the statement read.

"The damage is visible and evident - the blows and trauma she suffered have broken through the top of her head, and water from the sea has reached her sinus cavities.

"Hopefully the x-rays can rule out further damage and that the blows did not affected (sic) deeper into the skull."

Animals Lebanon are now assisting authorities to make sure the sea turtle "does not die from this unnecessary, avoidable, and illegal cruelty".

Incidents involving people dragging animals out of the ocean for photos has become more prevalent in tourist locations.

Earlier this month a group of tourists and a lifeguard in the Dominican Republic pulled a shark out of the water and posed for selfies while the predator died on the sand.