Former Sea Turtle Poachers Are now Protectors
2023-02-15
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1All the kinds of sea turtles found in the Philippines are endangered.
2That means they are at risk of dying out.
3But now, the turtles have one less threat.
4Many people who used to collect their eggs to eat or to sell are now working to keep turtles safe.
5Those people are called poachers.
6They took the eggs and caught the turtles illegally to sell them or eat their meat.
7Now, however, conservation organizations are teaching former poachers how to safely collect the eggs and protect them before they hatch.
8The people who do this are paid about 37 cents per egg.
9That is four times more than they would earn from selling them illegally.
10One of the former poachers is Johnny Manlugay.
11He is a 55-year-old builder.
12He said he used to go to beaches at night to steal the turtle eggs to eat or sell.
13Now, he walks the beaches with a bright light looking for turtle nests and the eggs inside.
14Manlugay looks for eggs belonging to a turtle called Olive Ridley.
15He brings his two dogs who help him find the eggs.
16"I've learned to love this work" he said, adding he did not know it was illegal to eat turtle eggs and their meat.
17He collects the eggs carefully and brings them to a group called CURMA, which stands for Coastal Underwater Resource Management Actions.
18CURMA takes the eggs and puts them under the sand in a safe place.
19When the baby turtles hatch, they are directed to the water.
20CURMA is trying to save the Philippine turtles.
21Along with Olive Ridley, the other kinds of turtles found there are Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Leatherback.
22The turtles are called "pawikan" in the local language.
23They are at risk not only from poachers, but also climate change and habitat loss.
24The conservation group formed in 2009.
25Its members teach the poachers how to collect the eggs and over time, they save thousands of turtles.
26Carlos Tamayo is one of CURMA's leaders.
27"We talked to the poachers, and it turned out poaching was just another means for them to earn a living," he said.
28"They had no choice."
29Jessie Cabagbag is one of the former poachers who now helps the turtles. He grew up eating their eggs and meat.
30Now he collects the eggs and keeps them safe.
31He said the extra money he gets helps him pay for necessary things such as food and electricity.
32He also purchased a tricycle, or bicycle with three wheels.
33He uses it to take passengers from place to place.
34The money he earns from that helps with his costs when he cannot collect eggs.
35Cabagbag is 40 years old. His wife and seven-year-old son sometimes help him collect turtle eggs.
36Since October, they have taken over 1,000 eggs to CURMA.
37Cabagbag said that once he received training and learned that the turtles were endangered, he stopped poaching.
38When the baby turtles hatch, many visitors come to watch them run down the beach and into the water.
39Cabagbag said seeing the turtles get safely into the water brings him a feeling of joy.
40"I am truly proud," he said.
41"I am happy that I get to contribute to the conservation of the 'pawikan.'"
42I'm Dan Friedell.