Community Connect: City community saves turtles saves turtles to safeguard our future!

Along the serene coastline of Chennai, a quiet but powerful movement is unfolding. The turtle community called ‘Save A Turtle’ — a passionate group involving conservationists, students, IT professionals, fisherfolk, and nature lovers — works tirelessly, along with officials from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department during nesting season to safeguard one of the planet’s oldest and most vulnerable species: the Olive Ridley turtle.Every year, from January to April, along with Forest department these volunteers patrol the beaches at night and relocating them to hatcheries to protect from various predators. Their efforts not only protect the turtles but also restore the delicate balance of the coastal ecosystem.“Our community isn’t just about turtles — it’s about people. Volunteers from diverse professions come together with a shared mission, showing how collective responsibility can lead to meaningful change. Their unity proves that protecting nature doesn’t require a title or degree — only empathy and action,” says Mohan Doss, a co-ordinator from the turtle community.‘Turtles may walk slowly, but they teach us the urgency of action’Mohan Doss shares, “Protecting an vulnerable species like the Olive Ridley is more than saving a creature — it’s saving our own future. These turtles have survived for over 100 million years, but human interference is now their greatest threat. When we guard their nests, we’re guarding generations of ecological balance. The turtle community in Chennai isn’t just saving eggs; they’re ensuring the continuity of life in our oceans.Nature speaks in subtle whispers — through footprints in the sand or a hatchling’s crawl to the sea. All we need to do is listen and act.”‘Conservation doesn’t belong to scientists alone’“The Chennai turtle community thrives because of its diversity. Engineers, artists, students, local fishermen, and even tourists come together for a cause larger than themselves. This fusion of perspectives creates a powerful force of empathy and action. Conservation doesn’t belong to scientists alone — it belongs to everyone who walks this Earth. When we blend our backgrounds and skills with purpose, we not only protect nature, we also enrich our human connection,” informs Divyadarshini, a college student.‘By protecting hatchlings, we’re investing in ocean resilience’“Sea turtles maintain seagrass beds, help control jellyfish populations, and support coastal health. Their presence reflects the health of the ocean. When we lose them, we lose these natural checks and balances. The turtle community in Chennai plays a pivotal role in this restoration. Every time we move a nest to safety, we are not just protecting hatchlings — we’re investing in ocean resilience,” states Balakrishnan, marketing executive at an IT company.