Protecting Sea Turtles with Sea Turtle Conservancy

We’re proud to support the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the world’s oldest sea turtle conservation organisation, founded in 1959. Sea Turtle Conservancy is a global leader in protecting endangered sea turtles through research, education, advocacy, and coastal habitat conservation.

Their work spans the Caribbean, Central America, and beyond, helping protect nesting beaches, track turtle migration patterns, and empower local communities to take part in long-term conservation.

All seven sea turtle species are threatened or endangered. From artificial lighting and beach development to illegal poaching and climate change, the threats are real and growing. Sea turtles face challenges at every life stage. Hatchlings often don’t make it to the ocean, and adults are vulnerable to fishing gear, pollution, and shrinking nesting habitats.

Sea Turtle Conservation works to change that by collecting scientific data, protecting critical nesting areas, and advocating for stronger environmental protections.

A Closer Look at Soropta Beach

One of the beaches Sea Turtle Conservancy monitors includes the 14km Soropta Beach in Panama, which hosts more than 1,000 leatherback nests every year, making it one of the most densely nested leatherback beaches in all of the Western Caribbean.

Leatherback turtles are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, and at many nesting sites, especially in Central America, leatherback populations have plummeted over the last 20 years. Until recently, the population nesting at Soropta Beach had been stable or even growing, but this remote population is now under threat due to illegal egg taking, a problem that returned following the pandemic.

“Sea Turtle Conservancy is dedicated to reversing this new trend and continuing a long-term monitoring, protection, and recovery program at Soropta. Our station is fully equipped; we have a great team of young biologists; and we have trained and hired a dozen members of the indigenous Ngöbe Indian community to assist, including law enforcement. Over the last three years, we have successfully operated a hatchery that increased the survival rate of hatchlings to more than 42% (previously, nests left in situ resulted in less than 1% hatchling success).” — Lexie Beach, Sea Turtle Conservancy

Meet Buddy the Turtle

Thanks to your support, Buddies for Paws is sponsoring Buddy, a leatherback sea turtle currently taking part in the 2025 Tour de Turtles , a friendly race between other egg-laying turtles tracked by Sea Turtle Conservancy from their laying sites to feeding grounds and back. Each turtle is swimming for a cause.

Buddy was spotted nesting on May 22 at Soropta Beach, where she laid her eggs. She’s now equipped with a satellite tag and is being tracked by Sea Turtle Conservancy scientists as she swims through open waters, raising awareness for marine conservation.

And yes, Buddies for Paws got to name her!

Buddy is competing against other tagged turtles to see who can travel the farthest during the Tour de Turtles migration marathon. The race raises awareness about ocean conservation issues, and we’re cheering her on every flipper of the way.

Hatchlings Have Arrived!

After nesting in May, Buddy’s eggs were carefully moved into Sea Turtle Conservancy’s protected hatchery, where they were monitored 24/7 to keep them safe from poachers. They incubated in the warm sand for around two months before little turtle heads started poking out, signalling the start of the hatching process.

Shortly after, 45 tiny leatherbacks made their way to the Caribbean Sea, beginning the most important journey of their lives. With luck, we hope to see some of them return to this very same beach in about 20 years, ready to nest and start the cycle again.

How Donations Help

By donating to the Sea Turtle Conservancy through Buddies for Paws, you help fund:

• Satellite tagging and turtle tracking
• Nest monitoring and hatchling protection
• Field research and habitat restoration
• Community education and marine advocacy

And with 100% of donations matched by BONK, your gift goes twice as far, helping protect sea turtles now and for generations to come.

Lexie Beach, Communications Coordinator at Sea Turtle Conservancy, says:

“The support Sea Turtle Conservancy has received from Buddies for Paws has been absolutely invaluable, especially as we continue to fight the daily threat of illegal hunting in Panama. Thanks to Buddies for Paws support, we have been able to protect more leatherback turtles and their eggs and ensure this endangered species is given the chance to survive and thrive!”

Follow Buddy’s Journey

We’ll be sharing updates on Buddy’s migration progress, and we’re already celebrating the safe arrival of her hatchlings.

Follow us on Instagram and X for updates from the beach and beyond.

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Donate here, all donations are matched by BONK and directly support sea turtle conservation.

We’re so proud to be part of Buddy’s journey and grateful to our community, who are helping protect turtles around the world.