Kenya

In Kenya, ex-accountant now protects sea turtles

By Vaughn Hillyard

BRIAN INGANGA, Associated Press

Oct. 2, 2021Updated: Oct. 2, 2021 4:36 a.m.

1of19Wilson Saro carries a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman’s net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. Saro and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

Fikiri Kiponda, left, and Wilson Saro, right, carry a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman's net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.2of19Fikiri Kiponda, left, and Wilson Saro, right, carry a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman’s net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

Fikiri Kiponda holds a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman's net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.3of19Fikiri Kiponda holds a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman’s net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

Fikiri Kiponda, who coordinates efforts to save sea turtles, enters details of a green turtle caught unintentionally by fishermen, at a turtle rescue center near Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.4of19Fikiri Kiponda, who coordinates efforts to save sea turtles, enters details of a green turtle caught unintentionally by fishermen, at a turtle rescue center near Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP5of19

A green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman's net is put into a vehicle by Fikiri Kiponda, center, before driving it to be released back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.6of19A green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman’s net is put into a vehicle by Fikiri Kiponda, center, before driving it to be released back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

A member of the Local Ocean Conservation group measures a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fishing net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The non-profit group rescues sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then releases them back into the marine park or treats injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.7of19A member of the Local Ocean Conservation group measures a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fishing net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The non-profit group rescues sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then releases them back into the marine park or treats injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

Fikiri Kiponda, left, and others from the Local Ocean Conservation group carry a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman's net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.8of19Fikiri Kiponda, left, and others from the Local Ocean Conservation group carry a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman’s net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

A board showing the date is placed next to a green turtle as it is photographed before being released back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The non-profit Local Ocean Conservation group rescues sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then releases them back into the marine park or treats injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.9of19A board showing the date is placed next to a green turtle as it is photographed before being released back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The non-profit Local Ocean Conservation group rescues sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then releases them back into the marine park or treats injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP10of19

Fikiri Kiponda shows turtle shells and other parts recovered during anti-poaching activities stored in a 11of19Fikiri Kiponda shows turtle shells and other parts recovered during anti-poaching activities stored in a “turtle mausoleum” at the Local Ocean center near the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

Elizabeth Chanzera, 6, carries a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in her father's fishing net, before it was released back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The non-profit Local Ocean Conservation group rescues sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then releases them back into the marine park or treats injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.12of19Elizabeth Chanzera, 6, carries a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in her father’s fishing net, before it was released back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The non-profit Local Ocean Conservation group rescues sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then releases them back into the marine park or treats injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

Fikiri Kiponda, center, and Wilson Saro, left, carry a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in the net of fisherman Wilson Randu, right, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.13of19Fikiri Kiponda, center, and Wilson Saro, left, carry a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in the net of fisherman Wilson Randu, right, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

Fikiri Kiponda, left, and Wilson Saro, right, carry a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman's net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.14of19Fikiri Kiponda, left, and Wilson Saro, right, carry a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman’s net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP15of19

Fikiri Kiponda holds a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman's net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.16of19Fikiri Kiponda holds a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman’s net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

Fikiri Kiponda carries a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman's net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.17of19Fikiri Kiponda carries a green turtle that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman’s net, before releasing it back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP

Fikiri Kiponda releases a green turtle, that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman's net, back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.18of19Fikiri Kiponda releases a green turtle, that was unintentionally caught in a fisherman’s net, back into the Watamu National Marine Park on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. A former accountant, Kiponda and the Local Ocean Conservation group rescue sea turtles that have been caught in fishermen’s nets, and then release them back into the marine park or treat injured ones at a rescue center until they are fit.Brian Inganga/AP19of19

WATAMU, Kenya (AP) — As soon as he gets a call from a fisherman who’s accidentally caught a turtle off Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline, Local Ocean Conservation’s Fikiri Kiponda jumps into his car to save it.

The work is far removed from the 44-year-old’s previous career as an accountant. He now dedicates himself to protecting endangered turtles that face multiple threats — from pollution to being sold for food, traditional medicinal purposes or the making of jewelry.

When Kiponda gets a call for help, he hurries to check the turtle for injuries that need to be treated in the organization’s rehabilitation center. Then it is released back into Watamu National Marine Park.

“The moment I tag a healthy turtle and release it back to the ocean where it is supposed to be, the feeling is just overwhelming,” he said.

Kenya has five species of sea turtles. All are internationally recognized as endangered, and protected under local law with a penalty of life imprisonment.

Local Ocean Conservation works on grassroots solutions with local communities. Kiponda and others regularly visit to speak about the importance of a healthy ocean to livelihoods.

Over 350 fishermen in Watamu have collaborated with the group for years. Previously, when they caught turtles in their nets, they often would kill them for food, traditional medicinal purposes or to keep their shells as trophies.

The ingestion of plastics in the ocean remains another threat to the turtles, causing internal blockages that can be fatal.

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