Most of the seven remaining sea turtle species are threatened with extinction. This matters, because sea turtles are a keystone species which help maintain ocean health by sustaining fish populations, preserving coral reefs, and preventing seagrass meadows from overgrowing and dying. Protecting them means protecting marine habitats that the coastal communities depend on – and by extension, the ocean that our own survival depends on.
Kenyan waters are home to five species of sea turtles, with greens and hawksbills being the most commonly sighted, both in the water and on beaches where they nest. Despite this, little is known about these sea turtles foraging habitats, developmental grounds, or migratory routes beyond Kenya’s waters. This knowledge gap makes it harder to understand the threats sea turtles face and design effective conservation strategies.
About ORP – Kenya
Our journey in Kenya began in 2018 with just one team member and a mission to protect sea turtles and their habitats in the Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve along the south coast of Kenya. What started with simple monitoring dives and small-scale education sessions has since grown into a dedicated team driving impactful long-term research, community-powered conservation, and marine awareness programmes along Kenya’s south coast. In 2024, ORP-Kenya became a locally registered NGO (NGO-EPFPJ6), with its headquarters in Diani Beach.
Main activities and objectives
We take a multi-faceted approach to protecting sea turtles and their habitats, rooted in the One Health model, recognising that animal health, ecosystem health, and human wellbeing are deeply connected. This approach allows us to promote healthier oceans and better outcomes both for sea turtles and for people. In Kenya, we focus on two interconnected areas:
- Sea turtle monitoring and protection
- Educational outreach
Sea turtle monitoring and protection
Every conservation effort begins with understanding the subject matter. For sea turtles in Kenya, vital questions remain:
- How are populations structured?
- Where do sea turtles forage and migrate?
- When, how and where do sea turtles nest in the country?
- What threats do they face, and where?
Without this knowledge, we cannot design effective strategies to protect sea turtles. That’s why our work starts with gathering reliable data: mapping sea turtle habitats, tracking their movements, and uncovering the threats they face. Each piece of information brings us closer to safeguarding sea turtles and the ecosystems they depend on.
We use a range of techniques to study sea turtles and their habitats in the Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve (DCMNR) and beyond. These include in-water sea turtle Photo-ID surveys, aerial drone surveys, and nest monitoring, mapping and protection at Jumba Beach in Kilifi.
Our sea turtle monitoring objectives are to:
- Understand the size, structure and connectivity of Kenya’s sea turtle populations
- Contribute towards the knowledge of sea turtle reproductive biology and foraging ecology
- Map high-priority sea turtle nesting and conservation areas
- Identify key threats to sea turtles
- Protect nesting sea turtles and active nests through Jumba Turtle Patrol (JTP)
- Develop targeted research and conservation strategies
In the long-term, we aim to expand into additional marine protected areas, strengthen nationwide conservation through community partnerships, and ensure Kenya remains a safe haven for sea turtles. Our findings are shared with both local, national, and international audiences.
Our sea turtle monitoring achievements and impacts
Identified over 700 green turtles and nearly 100 hawksbill turtles in DCMNR
Catalogued key sea turtle foraging areas in the reserve
Detected fibropapillomatosis (FP) disease in around 13% of identified green turtles
Published and contributed to seevral research papers, including:
- ‘Using Photo-ID to document and monitor the prevalence of fibropapilloma tumours in a foraging aggregation of green turtles‘
- ‘Photo Identification as a Tool to Study Sea Turtle Populations in Kenyan Marine Protected Areas‘.
- Drone-Based Assessment of Sea Turtle Habitat Utilization in the Diani-Chale National Marine Reserve, Kenya
Expanded monitoring into seagrass and mangrove habitats to better understand habitat use
Educational outreach
Lasting change is only possible when local communities are part of the solution. Our education programmes raise general marine awareness and help individuals build practical skills in marine conservation, with a strong focus on community-led initiatives.
Our activities include:
- Internships for graduates in related fields
- Student attachment programmes with partner universities
- Educational festivals and community events
- Workshops for schools, youth groups, and other stakeholders
- Citizen science projects with local dive centres
- Long-term collaboration with fishing communities through the Balozi wa Kasa (Sea Turtle Ambassador) Programme
- Trials of fisher-led bycatch mitigation strategies
Our goal is to strengthen knowledge of sea turtle distribution, threats, and habitats, and supporting grassroots action to protect sea turtles. At the same time, we are developing replicable models for community-led conservation that can be scaled across Kenya’s coastline.
Our educational outreach achievements and impact
Launched the Balozi wa Kasa (Sea Turtle Ambassador) Programme in collaboration with 9 fishing communities in Kwale county
Certified 129 Sea Turtle Ambassadors
Empowered Sea Turtle Ambassadors to teach their peer about sea turtles, record bycatch events and test mitigation solutions
Trained 5 interns through our internship programme, including one who is now employed full-time with us as a sea turtle biologist
Mentored 8 students through our attachment programme
Welcomed hundreds of children and stakeholders to celebrate the annual Diani Sea Turtle Festival
Collaborators & funders
Our work in Kenya is made possible through strong collaborations with partners such as Conservation Education Society (CES), Bahari Hai (BH), IFAW, Shimoni Turtle Watch (STW), Biosciences Research Centre (PUBReC) at Pwani University, Kenyatta University, and the Technical University of Mombasa to facilitate our activities with invaluable support from Kenya Wildlife Service, Wildlife Research and Training Institute, and Kenya Fisheries Service.
Long-term allies Diving the Crab and Ocean & Reefs, continue to play a key role, alongside newer partners and funders including Pacsafe, SEE Turtles, Animal Saviours, Ocean Culture Life, Msambweni Beach House, Oceanic Society, and SWOT.
We are deeply grateful to our individual donors, sea turtle adopters, and citizen scientists whose contributions are instrumental to our success. Your support is the backbone of our success.
