Earlier this month, the pawikan babies emerged out of the sand from the last nest in the hatchery adopted by Leeeeeenda. You know what that means: Season 2 for the Pag-asa Pawikan Protection and Conservation Center has ended and it was an unimaginable success, thanks to all of your support!
The total number of turtles released this season? 25, 532 out of 27, 384 eggs nursed by the volunteers. Majority are Olive Ridley but we had a few Green turtles, too.
In Season 1, we were so happy to have released 7, 501 Olive Ridley turtles from 7, 908 collected eggs. Over 300% growth is a lot to celebrate this year and we cannot thank you enough for being with us since Day 1 of this journey.
Thank you for adopting pawikan nests – it was impossible to save these eggs and ensure the hatchlings return to the sea without you. The hatchery remains a community project with no government funding or private grant behind it.
Your donations, much like the baby turtles coming out of their nest, lift the hatchery up, and together we head towards the light: turtles, volunteers, and the community.
Currently, the volunteers are cleaning the hatchery and doing rehab work, especially the important task of changing the sand where the eggs magically transform into baby turtles.
Again, many thanks to all of you who donated post-laying phase of this season. It is hard to wrap our heads around it, how much you have supported us, and all we can do is say our big thanks.
Season 2 was bigger in numbers: it was longer compared to last season and there was an overwhelming number of eggs, but fortunately, supporters and volunteers like you doubled their efforts, too.
We saw growing awareness about the hatchery: there were more nests, more visitors, more inquiries, and more agencies looking for ways to help. While these have yet to translate to sustainability and economic growth for the community, we believe that the trajectory remains positive. After all, the most important job is to release the baby turtles back into the sea and we are grateful to meet and have exceeded this target.
Together, everything is possible. We can continue to act on our values and help these turtles return the world’s oceans to health. It is a big goal but we are closer with each baby turtle that we send home and each mature or juvenile turtle that we rescue.
Thank you for helping the turtles and our community. People like you are saving the world. It sounds dramatic, but when you put it in perspective, it is true. Your iIndividual actions made life possible for 25, 532 turtles. Who knows what would have happened to them otherwise?
Thank you for lifting us up, thank you for powering us forward, thank you for believing in what we do, and thank you for having a heart for the turtles.
See you later this year for the start of Season 3!
Markus + Micah 
Just sent an incremental payment. I hope I can continue!
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Wow, many thanks for supporting the turtles! As always, right at the time when it is most needed. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity, for your thoughtfulness. So excited to share the news with the volunteers. Thank you!
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Yay!!! I wanted to do twice as much but don’t feel secure about it just yet. I figured what I did was better than nothing.
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Your thoughts are unreal. You have always shared more than we can ever hope for!
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It’s awesome to watch you two literally change the world ❤
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Oh, you are so generous. Thank you. This is a community effort. We all work together to support the sea turtles. Alone, it is very hard. But we can make big things happen together. Small efforts combined adds up to a lot.
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WOW!
Great to see some of “my babies”. I’m SO PROUD of you guys!!
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Imagine them having a good time in the sea! It is such a hopeful and joyful thought. Many thanks for your support!
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I imagine one growing into the turtle I saw while scuba diving in Costa Rica!
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Yes! Sea turtles travel long distances. Hopefully, one day we can track all our pawikan mums and babies, too. Many thanks for your endless support!
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I love these updates. It gaves me hope that there are good people in the world doing good work.
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And we are so grateful that you are one of them, Michele. It is too easy to say we are for this and that but our actions reveal the truth. Thank you so much for supporting the turtles. I hope Michelle Rocks baby turtles are having a concert out there in the reefs!
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It is my pleasure to support such a wonderful initiative. Yes, I can hear the music from here. 💖🎶🎤🎵🎸🎤🥁💖
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That’s an incredible number of turtles!
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I know! We have released 1,000 turtle hatchlings at once and the sand turned black. Can you imagine what 25, 532 look like together in the water? We hope many of them survive and come back to lay their own eggs when they mature after 30-50 years.
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Oh wow, I didn’t realize they had such a long lifespan.
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Yes, they can live up to 100 years! The problem is they mature late and only 1% to 10% of hatchlings survive to reproduce. Clearly, we must help them.
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Amazing! Thank you for raising awareness through the blog and for all your efforts!It makes mo so happy to think that so many baby turtles had the possibility to go out into the ocean and maybe come back in a few years to lay their own eggs! Can’t wait for season 3! 😊
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Thank you for your support! Each baby turtle that goes home symbolizes hope for all of us – that we can do good things together, that we can think of others and not just ourselves, that we can take action for the planet. I am happy knowing there are many Juliette turtles roaming the seas right now and having their own adventures! Really, thank you, Juliette. You are super.
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Marvellous! Wonderful 😊🙋♂️
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Thank you for supporting the turtles, Ashley! It is hard to imagine 25, 532 baby turtles swimming in the sea but it makes me happy.
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Can’t praise the turtle team enough! Amazing!
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Will make sure to let them know!
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👍😊🙋♂️
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Wonderful! I love reading and viewing your updates.
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Thank you for the huge support for the turtles, Michele. We cannot do it without you!
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It is my privilege. I will continue to support. 🐢😊
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