Saving Planet Earth
Saira Khan: Saving Turtles
Sea turtles are one of the animal kingdom's great survivors, having been on the planet for over 100 million years. But the threat of egg poachers, tourism and fishing is risking their very future.
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Saira Khan travels to Sri Lanka, home to five different species of turtle, to see the cause of the problems and to witness some amazing community work which is offering hope for the animals' survival.
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Sri Lanka has a vast fishing industry and many turtles feed in exactly the same waters where fishermen cast their nets.
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This can have devastating consequences as turtles are air breathing which means that, if they become trapped under water for any length of time, they will drown.
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It is estimated that more than 50,000 marine turtles are killed each year in South-East Asia and the South Pacific, with commercial fishing the main cause.
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Egg poaching poses a threat to future generations of the turtle, and the growth of tourism means that many of the beaches where the turtles return to lay their eggs are changing beyond all recognition.
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On her journey, Saira visits an area still recovering from the destruction of the Boxing Day tsunami, and understands why, for many here, turtle conservation is not a priority.
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She also meets a local fisherman, recently fined nine months wages for stealing turtle eggs. Learning that he took the eggs to feed his pregnant wife, she chokes back her tears, saying:
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"I feel really sad. I don't feel angry at him at all. He's a really poor guy and he's got a pregnant wife, and she wanted something to eat, and he just did what he thought was right for his family. I don't think he understands why it's wrong to do that, and I think that's the trouble."
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From here, Saira visits the Turtle Conservation Project's work in Rekawa, which is providing an innovative solution to the problems of poverty and poaching.
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The project has been working in the area for over 10 years, and, during that time, they have helped many of the local people turn from turtle poachers to turtle protectors, allowing them to make a living as tour guides while safeguarding the turtles and their nesting grounds.
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It's a great success story as conservation empowers poor people to run their own micro-businesses.
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During Saira's stay, the project at Rekawa beach is visited by the Sri Lankan Minister for the Environment, who declares the beach the island's first ever wildlife sanctuary for marine turtles – a recognition of the project and the local peoples' dedication and hard work.
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Speaking at the occasion, Peter Richardson, founder of the Turtle Conservation Project, says: "For me, today is about dreams coming true. The first night we came here we saw turtles; lots of turtles. But, we also saw some men working on the beach. And, on that first night, we saw them drinking, kicking turtles up the beach and eating their eggs.
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"But, despite all that, we fell in love with Rekawa and those people and the turtles which were part of their lives. We dreamt that, one day, the turtles in Rekawa would be safe and protected in a way that would be good for the turtles but also for the people whose lives depend on the turtles. And, today, that dream has also come true."
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Thanks to the project and to one of the local guides, Saira ends her trip by witnessing the wonderful sight of baby turtles hatching on the beach as they break through the sand and make their way into the ocean.
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A £10 donation to the 91Èȱ¬ Wildlife Fund (charity number 1119286) could pay for a team co-ordinator for the Turtle Conservation Project for three days.
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