Marine Conservation Volunteer Program -
“Watamu Turtle Watch”

Watamu / Malindi Marine Parks and Reserve (WMMPR) is part of a United Nations Biosphere Reserve, that also includes the Arabuko Sokoke coastal forest and encompasses Mida Creek which is three and a half nautical miles seaward. In the waters around Watamu, five species of marine turtles have been found, three are listed by the World Conservation Union as endangered and two as critically endangered.

WTW focused its conservation efforts on sea turtles in Watamu Marine Park and along the northern shores of Mida Creek, with a related education program. Concerned by the widespread degradation of the Kenyan marine environment, and  national exploitation of marine turtles, WTW broadened its conservation efforts to encompass the surrounding marine environment and to the protection of turtles across their migratory range while maintaining a focus of its turtle activities in the Watamu / Malindi area.
Local residents (registered volunteers) notify KWS rangers of any turtle nests on the beaches, they are given the responsibility of guarding the nests then later release the hatched turtles into the water, often observed by locals and visitors.
 

WTW Programms are listed below, volunteers are encouraged to participate fully in as many of these as possible.
1. Conservation & Research:

Daily patrols check for nesting turtles, and tracks in the sand that indicate new nests. Nesting turtles that are encountered are tagged and biometric data collected. Schedules are continuously organised to protect and monitor incubating and hatching nests. Nests are allowed to incubate in situ unless they have been laid in an area threatened by sea wash

Turtle Laying eggs

Turtle Tagging

WTW conduct marine environment and sea turtle conservation education and awareness programs in villages, fish landing sites, schools and hotels within the Watamu area. Interactive education techniques are used in classes, working on a fun and informal approach, supplemented by slide shows on sea turtles, mangroves, coral reefs and the coastal ecosystem as a whole. Periodic 'Marine Awareness Days' are also organized, where schools come together to participate in conservation art, drama and poetry competitions; as well as beach clean-ups.

WTW collects information on illegal poaching and fishing incidents and any other deleterious marine related events in Kenya and passes this information onto the responsible authorities and other stakeholders.