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oceanBASIS: 10 years of Protect the Ocean
The queen of the night
Our Oceanwell initiative “Protect the Ocean” is celebrating its anniversary: With stories that speak of encounters – with wilderness, turtles, waves, and people. The first takes us to Africa, to the coastal village of Pitiké in the far southwest of Côte d’Ivoire – where sea turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs in the sand.
First Sunday of Advent, 25 degrees - and no one wants cookies
It’s the first Sunday of Advent. While people in Germany shuffle between mulled wine stands and gift-buying madness, we’re trudging through the tropical night air of Pitiké – 25 degrees, a sky full of stars, and the gentle sound of the sea. Our Christmas spirit? Let’s say… subtle. But our hearts are pounding – we’re on our way to meet the true giants: the sea turtles.
The odds aren’t great. The moon is shining like a stadium spotlight – and turtles aren’t fans of that. They prefer darkness when they come ashore to bury their eggs.
Earlier that morning, we already witnessed something unforgettable: just after sunrise, tiny olive ridley hatchlings emerged from the sand and made their way toward the horizon – a miniature miracle that left us all a little speechless (see photo above).
And now, hours later, we’re heading out again – this time at a pace that’s pure pain for anyone unfamiliar with walking in deep sand. We have two hours to cover our assigned five-kilometer stretch of beach – there and back. Then it’s time for the shift change. Erik, the head of the local beach patrol, charges ahead. Next to him, we look like tourists dragging lead in our shoes. With every step, we sink at least 10 centimeters into the sand.
We support the beach patrol financially through our “Protect the Ocean” campaign, enabling them to monitor the turtles' nesting and protect the clutches afterwards.
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„Une luth! A leatherback turtle!!!“
Then suddenly, the crackle of the walkie-talkie. A voice – excited, almost in disbelief: “Une luth! Une tortue luth!!!” A leatherback turtle.
The biggest. The most majestic.
Two meters long, 700 kilograms in weight, a prehistoric beauty – with a leathery carapace and powerful flippers.
And there she is – almost unbelievable – right in front of us. Emerging from the ocean like a silent giant, she begins to dig into the sand.
Using her hind flippers, she scoops out a hole up to half a meter deep. Panting. Deliberate. Almost ritualistic.
Then, the egg-laying begins: 80 to 100 eggs, each the size of a tennis ball, tumble gently into the sandy nest.
We stand nearby, breathing shallowly, filming quietly.
Nesting of a leatherback turtle on the beach of Pitiké
The first dozen of 80 to 100 eggs is laid
You can find the full expedition report at: www.oceanblog.de/kultur/
reisetagebuch-cote-divoire/
A turtle disguises her eggs like a secret agent
After laying her eggs, the second act begins: the grand cover-up.
She doesn’t just bury the nest – she thoroughly messes up the surrounding sand. A diversion tactic to fool predators.
Only after 90 minutes does she return to the sea.
Silently. Effortlessly.
And us?
We’re left standing in the sand, goosebumps instead of sunburn – with the feeling that we’ve just witnessed something incredible.
Only one or two out of a thousand make it
Did you know? Out of a thousand hatchlings, only about one female will ever reach adulthood.
And the males? They never set foot on land. Born in the sand, they spend their entire lives in the ocean.
Protecting these animals is a small promise to the future.
Back to the sea after her hard work is done
Dr Levent Piker
Co-Managing Director oceanBASIS
The Oceanwell expedition team consisted of marine biologists Dr. Inez Linke, Dr. Peter Krost, Dr. Levent Piker, Olaf Grell (†),and geologist and photographer Wolf Wichmann. A portion of the proceeds from Oceanwell natural cosmetics supports the marine conservation initiative „Protect the Ocean“ (PTO).
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