Remember those pawikan or sea turtles that you helped return to the ocean last season? They are at it again!
On 30 August, the first pawikan nest was found by the community volunteers. There are a total of 27 nests now and counting. All of these first eggs were adopted by Audrey and Bubbles.
Bubbles, our favorite cat lady, powered much of the operations of the community hatchery during the off-season. Her support allowed us to nurse these early nests, but more important, rebuild the hatchery that was damaged by coastal floods during the last moonsoon season. We cannot thank you enough for your support!
Our big thanks to local supporters, too, who continue to take care of the needs of the hatchery. Much has improved now in terms of tools and supplies for those who collect the eggs and maintain the hatchery. This also means that Mama turtles are now tagged and their data recorded. All of it remains a community- and volunteer-centered effort.
The first hatchlings for this season were released 25 October – 22 small, fragile, yet driven turtles out of 100 eggs. The small number of hatchlings is attributed to the devastating coastal floods only a few months ago. The eggs got wet and cold. The developing turtles inside died.
We were lucky the coastal floods and the following erosion, which collapsed the dike and displaced many families, spared the rest of the hatchery. We will later find out the fate of the remaining nests.
We expect a higher number of nests this year, not only because the turtles started early, but also because the community is more energized and engaged than ever before, despite of and inspite of dealing with the natural calamities that ravaged the area.
There are more people patrolling the coasts. More nests found by individuals are being surrendered to the hatchery, instead of selling it for food or eating it themselves. There is more awareness of the turtles and a larger part of the community is involved in the cause – our cause, you included!
You were the first to believe in them, the first to say what they are doing mattered.
Almost 8,000 turtle hatchlings returned to the ocean last season because of you. I do not know how we would have made it without your support!
This season, the turtles seem to double-down on their efforts. We will be here supporting them. As long as there are pawikan eggs, we will do all we can to bring them home.
Do you think we can beat our record from last season?
Markus + Micah 
Oh, I remember the baby turtles from last year and can’t wait to support the preservation again! I am sure we will break the record of last year 😊 hope both of you are well and enjoying this month of November!
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Thank you, Juliette. There are close to 100 turtle nests now – isn’t that crazy? Last year, there was none at this time! More people in the community are aware and they see the value of protecting the turtles. The change that has happened in one year is very inspiring. We will share details on how to help soon. Thank you for your support!
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Wow these baby turtles are so tiny! That’s awesome that the community is more engaged in helping these little turtles survive! Best of luck!!
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Many thanks. We are doing all we can to support them. It is a little harder now since we are still in Germany but we look forward to being with them again in December. There is plenty of room to grow and more ways to support the turtles. They totally deserve it.
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8000 turtles? Wow! This is like saving nature.
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Yes, we pay the community for the pawikan eggs. These are taken from the coast and transferred to the hatchery, which is on the same coast but a protected area. The eggs are collected to protect them from sand erosion, flooding, animals, and people. When they hatch, they are released to the ocean. This helps both thr community and the turtles and gives the community incentive to protect the turtles and the ocean.
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Sweet little turtles. I am smiling now–thank you for the opportunity to help them last year. May the news of their journeys spread near and far.
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Thank you for being on Team Turtle, Kathy. It truly makes a big difference. I hope this is only the start and better things will come to the turtles and the community.
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Wow, wish I can be there with you and be the “turtle lady” to help the poor defenseless hatch-lings. They can be eaten by predators big and small, on land or from the sky. They do need volunteers to help them if they are in the endangered category.
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The turtles need all the help they can get. The eggs are taken from the coast to the hatchery to increase their chances of being born and they are released into the ocean. There is much coastal erosion happening, plus the eggs are in danger not just from animals digging them up and eating them, but also from some people who sell them for food or eat them themselves.
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The turtle babies are so cute! It’s reassuring to see them carry on, even when our world is kinda messed up
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True. The same hope is shared by the community that cares for them. Both are really inspiring. It is a privilege to support them.
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This is so wonderful! I can’t wait to read about the progress of these wonderful creatures. Thank you!
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Thank you, Michelle. It is not just the turtles that are benefiting from this project, but also the people. You can see growth in them in the way they care for nature and support these turtles. There is definitely more energy and awareness compared to last season. I am truly grateful to the village chief and his group for starting this conservation project in 2020 – it has become so much more than helping turtles hatch, but a way to empower and ground the community, too.
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That is fabulous. There’s nothing like a common cause to unite people.
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This is such a heart-warming story and I would happily support the cause again! Love turtles! 💐🙋♂️
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Many thanks! What amazes me most is the growth in community involvement. More people care about the turtles – and this means a lot considering how poor the people are. They choose to help the turtles instead of eating the eggs or profiting from them. So much has improved since last season and it is all because of people like you who believed in the project and in the people.
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Thank you for sharing this wonderful post and for all that you do protect nature. 🐢
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The turtles totally deserve it. For a long time, we thought they were gone, so when the eggs started showing up during the pandemic of 2020, there was no way we will not support them and the community.
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Yes they do, and thank goodness for people like you two. 💕 🙏🏼
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Aww, thx for the shout out!!
8000 turtles!!!!
If Life doesn’t stomp on me, I’ll happily donate again!!
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Thank you! It is a spectacle, seeing these baby turtles return to the ocean, and people coming together to support them from all over the globe is magic.
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