Conservationists Celebrate Successful Rehabilitation of Threatened Turtles

On October 18, 2025, conservationists and students in Lagos, Nigeria, celebrated as three endangered sea turtles were released back into the ocean. These turtles were the latest in dozens of sea turtles saved by the Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative in recent years.

The sea turtles, which play a critical role in the marine ecosystem, have been facing an alarming decline in the waters around Lagos, a coastal city of over 20 million people. Chinedu Mogbo, the founder of Greenfingers, explains that for local fishermen, the turtles are simply seen as food, with a lack of awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation.

To combat this, Mogbo's team has been working to incentivize fishermen to alert them when they find turtles or turtle nests. The fishermen are rewarded with fishing gear, which has helped increase the number of sea turtles being rescued and released back into the ocean. However, Mogbo notes that they have sometimes found the same turtles captured again after just six months, highlighting the ongoing challenge of protecting these endangered species.

Nigeria is home to an abundance of wildlife, but also faces a critical threat from illegal trafficking and a lack of awareness about conservation. As the three turtles disappeared into the waves, the students watching expressed their passion for wildlife rehabilitation and the importance of such efforts in the country.