Click to play videoChennai: Many species of sea turtles across the world are endangered.
In countries like India with a vast coastline, there is a growing awareness of the need to protect them.
An NGO in Chennai has been working for the past few years to save the Olive Ridley turtles.
"In the early 70s we would see over 100 turtles coming to nest in a 1 to 2 km stretch. Now we have just 12-13 turtles coming to rest in a 1 km stretch. So it is very important that we preserve the habitat that's remaining,” says founder, Sea Turtle Protection Force, Supraja Dharni.
An artist by profession, Dharini decided to tread an entirely different path six years ago.
She roped in volunteer fishermen from nearby villages and started a NGO called the Sea Turtle Protection Force.
"Madam came and explained to us that sea-turtles are very useful to the environment,” says a fisherman, N Ezhimalai.
Dharini and her volunteers patrol the beaches regularly for turtle eggs, which they relocate to the five hatcheries they have formed in the nearby hamlets. The hatchlings are later released back into the sea.
They also organise 'turtle walks' and other awareness programmes to educate local population.
Over the past six years, Dharini has released at least 28,000 turtles back into the sea.
And her message is quite clear and simple---any individual can make a difference.
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