Protecting the Sea Turtles of Timor-Leste

Every year between March and August, the beaches of Timor-Leste, a small island country north of Australia, become home to a beautiful natural spectacle. Female olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles return to the same beaches where they once hatched to lay eggs. Even more extraordinary is between May and October, when hundreds of babies hatch and make their way into the ocean. Unfortunately, the sea turtle population is at risk, with humans being among the threats to the olive ridley population in Timor-Leste. Some locals collect sea turtle eggs to sell or consume, a practice shaped by cultural traditions and economic pressures.

Timor-Leste is one of the world’s newest nations, having gained independence in 2002. Like many developing countries, it continues to face challenges such as poverty, limited education, and high unemployment. These factors may cause some people to turn to sea turtle consumption despite ongoing conservation efforts.

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Students Motivated for Change

A group of marine science students has recognized this issue and is taking action. In 2023, 24-year-old Jinu Braz Araújo founded the organization Lenuk Tasi, which translates from the local Tetum language to sea turtle. Araújo and the 10 other volunteer members of Lenuk Tasi search for nests in the evenings and carefully relocate them to Araújo’s hometown of Kasait.

When volunteers encounter locals collecting eggs, the approach is straightforward but costly: offer an alternative income. A payment of about 20 USD is usually enough to stop the looting and transfer the eggs to the Lenuk Tasi team. While it may seem like a small amount, the costs add up. Saving a clutch of baby turtles can total around 200 USD—roughly equivalent to the average monthly salary in Timor-Leste. For the group of students who do not have a steady income, this is a significant expense to maintain.

Additionally, searching for sea turtles via flipper markings several hours every evening for eight months a year is a significant time commitment. And they’re not always successful. “After hours of searching, sometimes we recognize a plundered nest by the absence of any baby flipper prints in the sand,” says Araújo. “It’s extremely frustrating and sad…but it also keeps us motivated to search and save every day.” Because of their passionate commitment, the members of Lenuk Tasi typically find intact nests. After careful relocation to Kasait, the baby turtles hatch in roughly 60 days.

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Sea Turtle Outreach and Education

To increase their chances of survival, hatchlings are released at dusk, when natural predators are less active. Because the process requires only brief training, Lenuk Tasi organizes turtle releases as educational events for both tourists and, importantly, local residents. During these events, Araújo emphasizes the importance of sea turtle protection, aiming to build awareness and reduce nest plundering over time. The team also draws on its scientific background to share fascinating facts about sea turtles, from temperature-dependent sex determination to the intricacies of egg laying.

Currently, the infrastructure of Lenuk Tasi is still rudimentary. There is not much more than handmade fences to protect the newly established nests in the mini-village by the sea. However, Araújo and his team have big plans: the dream is a conservation center with training rooms and an extensive program for schools of all age groups.

Since Lenuk Tasi currently sustains itself mainly through donations from (albeit relatively few) tourists, they actively seek sponsors, donations and support of any kind. I personally support the organization with donations and by contributing photos for use on social media channels. In addition to the very cute baby turtles, I had the chance to meet the incredibly friendly locals of Timor-Leste. An impressive experience that we will never forget.