The marine warriors

Fiona Vaz writes about a group of kids who saved baby turtles

It was field trip day when the students of Horizon Academy were taken to Turtle Beach to participate in a clean-up drive. Isaac had been looking forward to this day as he was eager to meet the turtle family. 

“Good morning, students, and welcome to Turtle Beach. Kindly join us as we clean our favourite holiday spot, and make it a healthy and better place for us and the marine life,” wished Robert, the head of the Marine Department. 

The students put on their safety gear and dispersed to collect the trash. They found plastic and glass bottles, food wrappers, empty tender coconuts, slippers, plastic toys, old fishing nets, and many more waste materials. Up to 10 bags of trash were already collected and kept aside.

Isaac, who was excited to see the turtles, could not find any. Since the beach was called Turtle Beach, he wondered why he could not see them anywhere.

He anxiously walked to Robert and asked, “Where are the turtles? Why are they not swimming or walking around?” Robert explained how the trash thrown on the beach has made it difficult for turtles to breed and swim. However, after cleaning, Robert promised to show him the turtles. Isaac was determined to meet the turtle family.

As they continued cleaning, a girl started yelling, “Hey, look, it’s a baby turtle! Everyone come here!” All the students ran to the girl, excited. They shouted, “Miss, Sir, we found a baby turtle.” Isaac was happy to finally get a chance to see a turtle. He bravely lifted it. The turtle started squirming. Isaac asked Robert, “Why does the turtle seem uncomfortable?”

Robert then held the turtle and asked the kids to gather around him. He showed the students a piece of plastic straw stuck in the baby turtle’s nose, making it difficult for it to breathe. He then asked the students to follow him to the Marine Life Care Centre. Robert handed the turtle to the doctors and asked the students to see how the creature was in pain as they removed the straw from its nose. He then asked the students to be seated and explained how the waste scattered on the beach poses a dangerous hazard for the marine species and can be life-threatening. 

He showed them different images of cases where small fish, sharks, whales, turtles, and birds have been affected by eating plastic, stuck and strangled in old fish nets, and trapped in bottles. The children were surprised as they did not know the impact of waste on marine life.

Isaac asked Robert on how they can prevent visitors from throwing waste materials on the beach. “By spreading awareness about the harmful effects of littering and showing them the effect it has on the marine animals,” said Robert.

Isaac asked his friends to huddle around him, and they collectively decided on multiple ideas to help spread awareness. 

He then asked Robert if they could be provided with art and recyclable materials as they wanted to design posters and banners that can be displayed around the beach. Robert provided the students with old papers, shells, bottle covers, fish nets, crayons, sketch pens, and other art supplies. All the children worked together and designed several posters and banners.

After designing them, all the students dispersed and hung the banners on coconut trees, and shacks, and around changing rooms and parking areas. Isaac felt accomplished and told his fellow classmates, “I hope we are successful in spreading awareness to all the visitors.”

Robert thanked the teacher and said, “You have a bunch of enthusiastic changemakers.” He then looked at the students and rewarded each one of them with a ‘Marine Warrior’ medal and thanked them for their hard work. 

As the clock struck four in the afternoon, the students were resting and having their snacks, many visitors started coming to the beach. They became nervous about whether the visitors would read their posters and banners, which were hung everywhere, and avoid throwing trash around.

Isaac noticed a child who threw his water bottle into the water after drinking it. He became sad and put his head down, as he felt their efforts were for nothing. Once he looked up, he observed the child’s parents, asking the boy to pick up the bottle and throw it in the trash can. 

Isaac was happy and told his friends, “Look guys, we made it. Together, we have helped save the ocean and the turtle family.” As they were leaving Turtle Beach, and walking towards the school bus, a bale of turtles walked towards the ocean, leaving their nests. Isaac and his classmates got excited and helped prepare a pathway for all the baby turtles.