Profile: Chiroko

With a large smile and bundles of energy, Chiroko (a childhood nickname) first volunteered to protect green turtle nests in the Matemwe area in 1992 with the Matemwe Sea Turtle Conservation Project.  A Matemwe local born in 1969, Chiroko has witnessed the dramatic decrease in the turtle population.  In order to combat this decrease Chiroko gives community lectures to stress the importance of protecting the turtles and urges villagers not to consume turtle eggs.  Even though his task of protecting the turtles is very challenging, Chiroko loves his job and hopes that with further education and better conservation habits green turtles will continue to use the beaches of Matemwe as a nesting ground.

Travelers’ Philanthropy Projects >