It is early in the morning and I am jumping around the rafters of the boats parked on our beachfront. My father is inspecting our fence. I am seven years old.
Two men approach Father. Between them is a turtle as big as I am, which they were holding captive, one flipper each. The other guy carried a plastic bucket in his other hand. They spoke to Father briefly, he shook his head, and the two men soon left.
I never saw a turtle on our beach again, or since.
***
I thought they were gone. I held a quiet acceptance in my heart, and remembered the turtles every once in a while, reminiscing with visiting friends. I would tell them we had turtles on our beach that laid eggs here before Christmas when I was a child. It breaks my heart, but I grew up too late, and now they are gone.
***
Fast forward. The pandemic hit. Tourists vanished from our beaches and our small rural town fell into a hush.
And one cold night, a miracle – turtles!
I do not know how or why, but the turtles returned, and we have been finding eggs along the coast since October.
To protect the turtle eggs, the local village started building a hatchery. We only learned about it two weeks ago. It is not government funded, just the personal project of the village chief. If the people find eggs, he buys them for Php 4 each. One nest is at least 100 eggs.
The problem is he does not always have money to pay for the eggs and the people need to eat. It is an extremely poor village. The people could either eat the eggs or the meat of the mother or sell the eggs boiled for PhP 15.
I cannot possibly be alive and have this happen. Again. So far, we have personally saved 2,700 turtle eggs and counting and made contributions to build the hatchery.
If we save these eggs and they keep coming back through the years, then being alive would have been worth it.
***
There are six kinds of turtles here: green turtle, olive ridley turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle, and another one that I do not know. Out of 100 eggs, between 0% to 10% will reach maturity – but every single one that makes it will have a huge positive impact on the ecosystem.
These turtles can live up to 100 years. Can you believe that? We are betting around $10 for 100 years. A phone case, a small plant, or a cup of coffee is more expensive than that.
***
You can also help in saving the turtles by sponsoring a nest for at least $10. All the money you donate will go to the eggs. Your name will be added to their marker and we will forward the documentation to you.
Together, we can make a larger impact, protect more eggs, and increase the chances of growing their population. The laying season is until February, or until the cold lasts. We have about two more months this season if we are lucky. This is an opportunity that we cannot let pass.
Help bring back the turtles by sponsoring a nest. Thank you very much!
$10.00
If possible, please also add a short blurb on your next post about the turtles and this fundraising drive, or share this post on social media. Maybe you have followers who have a heart for the turtles and they can help, too. We can save more turtles together!
Let us open the coming year with hope. The turtles coming back is no less than a miracle and it is up to us to give these eggs the best chances for survival.
We will continue to save the turtles with our maximum effort. If you decide to make a difference, on behalf of the turtles and our local community, thank you very much. Your $10 means, literally, the world. We cannot thank you enough for your support. These baby turtles are counting on you!
Help bring back the turtles by sponsoring a nest. Thank you very much!
$10.00
Markus + Micah 
I think turtles and tortoises are amongst my favourites animals, so I love this project of yours so much! I just sent my donation (name Juliette D. on my marker if possible!) 😊 Congrats for taking on such an important project, you definitely make the world a better place!
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Thank you so much! We will add the name you mentioned on the marker and update you with the adoption. It is an important project that is larger than all of us. Yet our little individual efforts can do so much. And yes, the turtles are lovely. Releasing them is like holding a miracle in your hands. It is such a privilege to work in their behalf. We cannot thank you enough.
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wishing you & all turtles everywhere a wonderful 2021 ❤
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Thank you. The turtles will have a better 2021 because of everyone who supports them!
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Just realized my donation comes through on the receipt as from McCall Digest. Please use my name instead. Thanks!
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Noted. In behalf of the turtles, thank you very much! We will forward the marker with the nest info once it has been processed.
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I just sent a donation, too. So love what you guys are doing! ❤
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This went to spam! Thank you again, Kathy.
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Well done! Donation sent, happy to help your efforts, help the turtles, help nature thrive.
Their disappearance on your island reminded me, sadly, of how native salmon nearly disappeared from my home state of Washington. Removing dams, restricting sport and commercial fishing, and doing more to protect waters where they swim to spawn are helping. There’s room for hope, just as with your turtles.
Good luck!!
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Oh, congratulations on saving the salmon. It is beyond heartbreaking when species disappear. It is unacceptable, especially because we can always do something to protect them. Thank you for caring for the turtles halfway around the world! Really appreciate your trust and support. We will notify you with the adoption and send the marker. Thank you very much!
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Wow, how awesome and thoughtful of the village to build that hatchery! I am very impressed with the work that you all are personally doing to help save the turtles as well. That is phenomenal! I love what you guys are doing and will definitely support the cause! Keep up the great work!
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Thank you, Toni. If we do not help the turtles, who will? They already made the effort of laying the eggs, and just mere surviving through the shitshow that we put them through, so now it is up to us to do our part. What name should I add on the marker for your nest?
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My pleasure! You can put Toni B. on there. Thank you!
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Noted. Thank you! We will forward the marker with the nest info once it is up.
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Awesome, thanks so much!
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A great post, Micah and Markus. I sent you the donation. My sister found a baby tortoise about 2 weeks ago. No one has claimed it so she has been looking after it. It is the cutest little thing.
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Thank you, Robbie. What name should we add on the marker? That is cool. Tortoises are the land turtles? I am not sure we have those in this country but we have sea turtles in some islands but they all need some help. Many thanks for supporting them! We will update you once your nest has been adopted.
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Wonderful, Micah. Could you name our’s Michael. It will be his project.
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Yes, I will add Michael on the marker and update you. Thank you very much again!
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What a heartwarming project! Please put Brad Purinton on my marker. It’s an honor to participate.
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Many thanks! Okay, we will send you the marker for your nest and update you when they hatch. This project is critical, and we are so grateful for people like you who care enough to help the turtles halfway around the world. Healthier seas mean a healthier world for everyone! Thank you for your support.
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Hi, I’ve just sent my one-off donation. Just my first name, Ashley, on the list, please! Good luck and hopefully there will be many more donations, and turtles! 😊
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Thank you for adopting a nest! Yes, we hope for the best, too. We cannot thank you enough. The season is closing – we only have six weeks left, if we are lucky. Will send you the marker once you have your own turtle eggs.
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Unfortunately I didn’t see any while in the Philippines. All I saw was a bayawak emerging from the sand
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Those eat turtle eggs. Haha. That is why we take the eggs to the hatchery – to protect them from any predators, especially people. During our first release, there were so many birds circling above.
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Interesting. Apparently in the Philippines predators also hunt the bayawak…pulutan daw…
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Very true, which is strange, because it is easier to, say, find normal meat in the market, compared to a lizard.
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aww you guys are doing such a fantastic job! I am definitely going to make a donation! ❤
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Thank you. It is important that we help the turtles. If we would not, who will? Working for them is a privilege and we cannot thank you enough for supporting them.
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<3<3<3 I just sent it through via paypal (I am not sure you will see the name Bruno or Irene), let me know if you received it!
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Yes, got it. Thank you very much for supporting the turtles. What do name do you want us to add on your marker?
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thank you! If you can put just Irene it would be great! 🙂
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Noted. We will send you the marker when it is up and update you when your baby turtles have hatched! Again, many thanks for your support.
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Count me in!
Turtles remind of the Japanese fable by Uroshima Taro
Aha! What a cool full name Micah! Godspeed your cause!
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I received your donation, Janis. Thank you! Should I add Janis or your full first name on the marker?
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Janis nalang 😀
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Noted. Will send you the marker once you have a nest to adopt. Thank you for supporting the turtles!
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Now, I tried to recall more about the book having read it so young, his name was Urashima and it wasn’t by him.. he’s the protagonist who rescued a turtle…
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That is a cool story. Now we can all rescue turtles. I was really surprised to find the eggs. For so long, I thought they were gone. Not sure how much the pandemic played a role, but I am just happy to see them again. During the first release of hatchlings, I honestly wanted to cry. I looked at those turtles in my hand and they will live for a long time after I am dead.
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It did play a huge role because for a year, the shore had been more peaceful and the turtles had found a refuge from where they can safely lay eggs… it’s magical!
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Not sure if you have ever cradled baby turtles in your hands, but yes, they are every bit magical. We are really lucky we have family and friends and blog friends like you that care for them, too.
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I have cared for a small turtle but not as tiny as the ones on the blog. I remember finding it after a flood in Pampanga.
Incidentally, we’ve found a turtle here too. It’s weird because Riyadh is a desert but it was crossing the street. Perhaps it was placed in one of those manmade swamps and got away..
I haven’t had the privilege of touching small and delicate ones like what you’ve found…
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It seems like the turtles are finding you! The ones here just hatched, only a few hours old. You would think they are squishy and delicate but not really. It is funny because when we pick them up, they squirm so much but once we placed them on the sand, they would not move. Haha! At least at first. Then they see the sea and head for home.
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Turtles are fascinating creatures… I remember seeing something either a movie or a tv drama — same thing has happened, they found eggs, protected them and as they hatched, they made LED light path so the turtles woud follow the light as they head to the water… I totally forgot where I have seen that… it’s fascinating!
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Oh that is a cool story. Thank you for sharing. Usually, it is heartbreaking stories about turtles, but this one is really nice.
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