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Volunteers Gita and Alya present the sea turtle life cycle through a puppet story. Credit - Sony Adam.

Expanding horizons in sea turtle conservation by harnessing the power of social media

Sea turtle conservation today is not only happening on nesting beaches or in research stations, it’s also taking place in the digital world. With the internet connecting people faster than ever, online platforms have become powerful tools to raise awareness and engage wider audiences in conservation efforts. 

Turtle Foundation (TF) and its local partner, Yayasan Penyu Indonesia, have launched a redesigned website and strengthened the organisation’s presence on social media to bring people closer to sea turtles and their habitats, and to invite everyone to take part in protecting them. 

Access to sea turtle conservation insights

At the heart of the platform is a belief that conservation thrives when knowledge is shared openly. The website provides access to research findings and educational resources. From articles and infographics, to a story book and board game, all are designed for students, teachers, communities, and supporters worldwide. 

The platform’s goal is to do more than inform; it seeks to nurture curiosity and inspire responsibility. Protecting sea turtles is no longer seen as the exclusive work of experts alone, but as a shared responsibility that everyone can embrace in their best way possible. 

Visibility that inspires public support 

Conservation also needs visibility; a way for people to witness the challenges and impact of ongoing efforts. Our platform shines a light on fieldwork, celebrates contributions from local communities, and showcases the perseverance of rangers working to protect nesting beaches across our sites in Indonesia. A nest-counting tool and graphs display the number of nests recorded in our sea turtle protection programme. This visibility builds transparency and accountability. Supporters and partners can follow progress, seeing how their contributions help to safeguard sea turtles. 

Digital reach, real-world change 

In the past year, our platforms have welcomed over 5,000 new followers, generating more than 1.5 million views and 45,000 interactions. Local creators collaborated to produce reels or short video campaigns against head starting practices, where hatchlings are raised in captivity for a period of time before being released into the sea. These campaigns have raised awareness about the risks this method poses to hatchlings’ survival.

Importantly, online engagement has begun to translate into real-world action. Some social media followers have stepped forward as volunteers, helping to facilitate awareness-raising events for children. This offers a way to educate through simulation, introducing the sea turtle life cycle and conservation best practices. For those unable to join in person, our website provides options to contribute through donations. 

Clear instructions also empower supporters to take part in combating the illegal trade of sea turtles on online marketplaces by reporting related ads. Our monitoring has uncovered more than 300 ads selling over 25,000 sea turtle-based products including jewellery, dried eggs, and oil. To date, 94.4% of these ads have been successfully removed. 

A strong digital presence opens vast opportunities to strengthen conservation, and we will continue to grow an online community that amplifies our efforts in protecting sea turtles and their habitats. 

Written by Alya Daniyah Rosyadah. For more information on this Darwin Initiative Capability & Capacity project DARCC056, led by Turtle Foundation, please click here.