Turtle and Marine Conservation in Msambweni

Sea turtles are among the oldest reptile species in the world, having been in existence for over 100 million years. Globally there are seven species of turtles in the ocean waters, the loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta), green turtle (chelonia mydas), leatherback turtle (dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata), kemp’s ridley (lepidochelys kempii), Olive ridley (lepidochelys olivacea), and the flatback turtle (natator depressa). Five of these species green turtle, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and olive ridley are found in the Kenyan and East African waters.

 

These beautiful marine creatures play an important role in marine ecosystem balance, and are also a key tourist attraction at the Kenyan coast. However in the recent past, their survival has been listed as either endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature - IUCN.

 

A sea turtle at Msambweni beach / Photo: MTMCG.

In Msambweni area Kwale County, locals have shown significant efforts to conserve sea turtles. Msambweni Turtle and Marine Conservation Group MTMCG, a community based organization active since 2004, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness on the importance of marine environment conservation. According to Hussein Mwabori, Msambweni Turtle and Marine Conservation Group monitors turtle movements in the beaches stretching from Mwandamu to Munje villages, where members identify turtle nests and trans-locate them. Usually turtle nesting at the beaches of Msambweni takes place between the month of April and September each year, and turtle eggs take 60 or slightly more days to hatch depending on temperature ranges of the given nesting season.

Population decline:

It is estimated that the turtle population in the world has declined by 80% over the past 50 years.

Several factors have contributed to the decline of marine turtle population, including human activities such as coastal developments, poaching, pollution and also effects of climate change.

Hussein Mwabori (L) trans-locating a turtle nest. /MTMCG

Coastal developments cause land loss, a major factor forcing turtles to either waste their eggs in the sea or lay them in inappropriate locations, hence reducing their chances of survival.

Also research shows that for every 1,000 sea turtles hatched, only one reaches maturity age which is 25 years.

Even though sea turtles face extinction and are placed among the endangered species in need of special protection, they remain a major tourist attraction at the Kenyan coast.