THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MISSION
MEET THE TURTLE RANGERS
Every night, while most of us sleep, our Turtle Rangers patrol Kilifi's beaches, protecting nesting sea turtles, relocating vulnerable nests and responding to turtles in distress. These are the people safeguarding one of Kenya's most important marine ecosystems.
Our rangers are members of the local community. Several once depended on activities that put pressure on the very marine ecosystems they now protect.
Today, they are conservation leaders — and this programme is proof that conservation succeeds when local people have ownership and opportunity.
OMAR
HEAD RANGER
Omar grew up on this coastline, the ocean at the centre of everything — his grandfather was a well-known fisherman in the area, and the sea was less a backdrop than a way of life. Today he leads the TurtleSafe Programme, and it shows: he's an avid turtle enthusiast who lights up the moment he starts talking about protecting Kenya's turtles. For Omar, this isn't a job he found — it's the ocean he grew up on, still shaping what he does with his life.
BARAKA
MORNING PATROL RANGER
Baraka once sold sea turtle meat to help provide for his family. At the time, survival came before conservation, and he had little opportunity to understand the wider impact of turtle poaching. Becoming a Turtle Ranger changed not only his work, but also the way he sees the ocean. Today, Baraka patrols Kwa Chambo and Kwa Ngala beaches, helping monitor nesting activity, protect vulnerable nests and respond when turtles are in danger. An avid swimmer, he is deeply at home in the water and brings that connection to his conservation work. He is also an active participant in Ocean Sole’s beach clean-ups and waste-data collection, helping tackle the plastic pollution threatening marine life. “In the past, I didn’t think much about conservation—I only thought about feeding my family. Poaching felt like the only option. But after learning about the importance of sea turtles and getting involved in conservation work, my mindset changed. Now, I patrol the beaches at night, rescue nests, and work with my community to protect our marine life. I’m proud to be part of something that gives back to the ocean instead of taking from it.”
KARISA
TURTLE RANGER | DATA OFFICER
During difficult financial times, Karisa relied on sea turtle poaching to support his family. With few alternative sources of income and limited access to conservation education, turtles appeared to offer a solution to an immediate need. Joining a local conservation initiative changed his understanding of the ocean and his place within it. Karisa learned how sea turtles support healthy marine ecosystems and why protecting them creates longer-term benefits for coastal communities. Today, he monitors nesting beaches, responds to turtle sightings and encourages fishermen to adopt more sustainable practices. He is proud to stand between the turtles and the threats they face—protecting the wildlife he once hunted. “I once hunted sea turtles to feed my family. Today, I protect them because I know they deserve a future.”
MWALIMU A.KA TEACHER
NIGHT PATROL RANGER
Mwalimu’s journey is one of remarkable transformation. Once a sea turtle poacher, he now patrols the same beaches at night to protect nesting turtles and their eggs. Known locally as “Teacher,” he has become an ambassador for turtle conservation, sharing what he has learned with others and helping his community understand why these animals must be protected. Beyond his patrols, Mwalimu actively supports Ocean Sole’s beach clean-ups and community workshops. He now uses his experience not to hide what happened in the past, but to show that people can change when conservation creates knowledge, responsibility and a genuine alternative. “I used to collect turtle eggs and sometimes hunt turtles because it was how I made a living. But over time, I saw how their numbers were going down, and I realized we were destroying something important. Today, I protect the same nests I once took from—monitoring beaches, educating others, and making sure these turtles have a chance to survive. It’s not just a job now, it’s a responsibility.”
SALIM
MORNING PATROL RANGER
Salim spent years as an artisanal fisherman along this coast, and when fishing alone couldn't cover what his family needed, he turned to poaching sea turtles to make up the difference. Like so many others, he didn't fully understand, then, what turtles meant for the health of the wider marine ecosystem. Conservation training and community awareness work changed that for him. Today, Salim patrols Kwa Ngala and Kwa Chambo beaches, mostly through the morning hours — protecting nests, rescuing stranded turtles, and passing what he's learned on to fellow fishermen. His journey is proof of what a shift in understanding can do. "I used to see turtles almost every week. Now, seeing one is something special. That's why I protect them."
KITSAO
TURTLE RANGER
For years, Kitsao relied on fishing to get by, but as catches declined and money got tighter, he turned to sea turtle poaching to help support his family — without knowing, then, what these animals meant for the health of the ocean he depended on. Conservation training and mentorship changed that, and he made the decision to stop. Now Kitsao patrols Kwa Chambo and Kitangani beaches, mainly at night, protecting nesting sites, monitoring hatchlings, and helping other fishermen and community members understand why this work matters. "Conservation gave me a new purpose — and a better way to provide for my family."
THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATION CAN BE DIFFERENT.
YOU'RE NOT
JUST FUNDING PROTECTION.
YOU'RE HELPING
BUILD ITS FUTURE.
Join the Mission
Every gift protects sea turtles today while helping build a future where local communities can fund conservation themselves.
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Your support creates impact far beyond a single patrol.
Every gift protects turtles today while helping communities build a future where conservation pays for itself.
5 km
Of Kenyan Beach
6
Turtle Rangers
400+
Hatchlings protected each year
24
Months of Protection