The "warriors" protecting sea turtles

Sea turtle conservation is one of the activities of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), starting in Con Dao (Ba Ria - Vung Tau province), then expanding to Nui Chua National Park (Ninh Thuan province), and Hon Cau Marine Protected Area ( Binh Thuan province ).

Passionate about the job

Ho Huu Toan is a volunteer for the IUCN sea turtle conservation program, Batch 6 - 2024, in the Bay Canh Island Conservation Area - Con Dao National Park.

To officially become a member of the program, he went through a rigorous selection process to demonstrate his knowledge of sea turtles and his enthusiasm and commitment to the activity. Volunteers wake up at dawn to watch over the turtles, wait for them to lay eggs, fill holes, mark the holes, and move the eggs to the incubation pond after they have laid them… Volunteers have very little time to sleep. Through volunteering, Huu Toan has come to understand the hardships of the forest rangers here. "Just loving nature is not enough. To do the job well, you need energy, endurance, and the ability to maintain a schedule with a specific time zone – which I call the sea turtle time zone," Huu Toan emphasized. Beyond understanding the biological characteristics and life of sea turtles, the young volunteers also demonstrated their ability to adapt to living conditions lacking in material resources, and their previous community work experience was an advantage.

Not only Huu Toan, but Le Thi Ba (28 years old, a traditional medicine doctor) also took half a month's leave to participate in the program. Departing from Hanoi, Le Thi Ba took two flights to Con Dao. Twelve days spent immersed in the nature and people there felt like a beautiful film. She remembers the moment she observed a mother turtle laying eggs on the first night at Bay Canh Island. The mother turtle gradually came ashore, chose a spot, pushed through the sand, and laid her eggs. It takes a long time for the mother turtle to mature and return to the very place where she was born to fulfill her natural role. Although she had read books and watched videos , witnessing it firsthand deeply moved Ba. The moment the baby turtle returned to the sea also impressed her. "Hearing the sound of the waves and finding its place, the baby turtle used all its strength to swim out to sea. At that moment, I saw the wonders of nature," Ba recounted.

The IUCN sea turtle conservation volunteer team, Batch 6 - 2024, comes from diverse fields but all share a common love for nature. Photo: NAM BUI

Overcome yourself

Throughout their lives, sea turtles face numerous threats from fishing activities and environmental pollution… Statistics show that for every 1,000 hatchlings, only 1 survives, matures, and then returns to the nesting grounds.

These mother turtles have overcome a truly arduous journey and still remember their birthplace so they can return to lay their eggs. Photo: MINH HIỀN

The sea turtle conservation volunteer program contributes to raising community awareness, starting with the volunteers. Each volunteer, upon returning to their daily lives, truly becomes a "sea turtle ambassador," helping people better understand sea turtle conservation, marine environment conservation, and biodiversity in general.

Le Thi Ba said that the wonderful things she received from becoming a volunteer are hard to list. Although she regularly participates in social projects, this is the first time her focus has been on sea turtles. Ba also overcame her personal fear: the dark. Most sea turtle conservation activities take place at night. The darkness embraces the mother turtles, giving them a sense of security and making the starry sky brighter, sharpening her other senses. After each shift, she gradually changed. "I can now track the footprints and observe the mother turtle's movements as she comes ashore, listen to the sounds of digging holes, and know that the mother turtle is struggling to move. I have overcome myself," Ba said.

Living and working on the island, immersing themselves in nature, and dedicating themselves to sea turtle conservation alongside other volunteers and rangers further inspires young people to live positively. "I feel fortunate to have fully enjoyed my journey as a sea turtle conservation volunteer," Toan shared.

Once the goal is set, difficulties are no longer a barrier for the volunteers. On the other hand, collaborating with individuals full of responsibility and enthusiasm also provides Toan with opportunities to learn and grow. He consistently posts many articles on his personal page that attract a lot of attention. In these posts, he summarizes useful information and experiences and is willing to support other young people to continue this activity.

These tiny baby turtles are incredibly strong in the vast ocean – the place where they belong. Photo: Ma Hao

On the first day arriving at Bay Canh Island, the entire team worked diligently to transport supplies. Photo: Kim Tam

These young volunteers stand shoulder to shoulder, supporting each other in carrying out their tasks as sea turtle conservation volunteers. (Photo: Ma Hao)

At the end of their journey, the volunteers bid a fond farewell to the forest rangers. Photo: Ma Hao

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nhung-chien-binh-bao-ve-rua-bien-19624091420084047.htm