Every May 23, World Turtle Day shines a spotlight on the incredible sea turtles that grace our oceans. These ancient mariners, navigating the seas for over 100 million years, face growing threats from poaching, plastic pollution, and habitat loss. At Ocean Sole, we’re committed to protecting these majestic creatures through our innovative art and impactful conservation programs like the TurtleSafe Project and our new Turtle Guardian membership. This World Turtle Day, we invite you to join our mission by supporting our fundraising efforts to expand our ranger team, equip them with essential tools, and secure a brighter future for sea turtles.
Ocean Sole: Turning Flip-Flops into Art and Hope for Sea Turtles
At Ocean Sole, we transform discarded flip-flops into vibrant, handcrafted sculptures, raising awareness about ocean conservation while cleaning up Kenya’s beaches. Each piece of Ocean Sole art tells a story of sustainability, with proceeds directly funding our conservation initiatives. By purchasing our unique turtle sculptures or other marine-inspired creations, you’re not just owning art—you’re saving sea turtles from poachers and marine debris.
Our work doesn’t stop at art. The TurtleSafe Project, launched in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service and local communities, protects nesting sea turtles along Kenya’s coast. However, poachers remain a relentless threat, and we urgently need your support to grow our ranger team and equip them to keep turtles safe.
The TurtleSafe Project: A Lifeline for Nesting Sea Turtles
The TurtleSafe Project is at the heart of our sea turtle conservation efforts. Operating in areas like Bofa Beach, our rangers patrol nesting grounds during peak seasons, ensuring mother turtles can lay their eggs safely. Poachers, driven by the illegal trade in turtle meat and eggs, pose a severe threat. A single turtle can fetch $75 on the black market—nearly a month’s salary for a local fisherman—making poaching a lucrative but devastating practice.
Since January 2024, our team has protected 11 nests, but we’ve also mourned 9 turtle mortalities due to poaching. Our rangers, many of whom are former poachers turned conservationists, work tirelessly for five hours each night, 2.5 hours before and after high tide. They scare off poachers, monitor nests, and guide hatchlings to the sea. But with only six rangers, we’re struggling to cover the vast nesting beaches. Our goal is to expand to 30 rangers to create a robust defense against poachers.
Why We Need Your Help: The Urgent Need for Rangers and Equipment
Protecting sea turtles is a high-stakes mission. Poachers operate under the cover of darkness, and our rangers need proper equipment to confront them safely and effectively. Here’s what we urgently need to scale our TurtleSafe Project:
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More Rangers: With only six rangers, we can’t patrol all nesting sites. Expanding to 30 rangers will allow us to cover more beaches and deter poachers more effectively. Each ranger’s salary costs approximately $150 per month, and hiring ex-poachers transforms lives while protecting turtles.
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Flashlights and Headlamps: Night patrols require reliable lighting to spot nesting turtles and detect poachers. High-quality flashlights and headlamps cost $20–$50 each, and we need at least 30 units.
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Uniforms: Professional uniforms boost ranger morale and visibility, costing $30 per set. We need uniforms for all current and future rangers.
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Pepper Spray: For safety, rangers need non-lethal pepper spray to deter aggressive poachers, priced at $15 per canister.
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Water and Supplies: Patrolling in tropical heat is grueling. Providing clean water and basic supplies for nightly patrols costs $10 per ranger per week.
Without these resources, our rangers are stretched thin, and poachers exploit gaps in coverage. In 2021, the Turtle Foundation in Cape Verde reported a poaching rate of just 0.17% with 47 rangers—proof that more boots on the ground make a difference. Your support can help us replicate this success in Kenya.
Become a Turtle Guardian: Your Membership Saves Lives
This World Turtle Day, we’re thrilled to introduce our Turtle Guardian membership, a new way to support sea turtle conservation year-round. For as little as $10 per month, you can fund ranger salaries, equipment, and beach cleanups. Members receive exclusive benefits, including:
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A 10% discount on Ocean Sole art purchases.
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Quarterly updates on TurtleSafe Project progress, including nest counts and ranger stories.
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An invitation to virtual events with our Coastal Impact Manager, Thomas Sagimo.
By becoming a Turtle Guardian, you’re directly protecting nesting turtles and their hatchlings. Your membership ensures our rangers have the tools and support they need to fight poachers and clean up marine debris, which threatens baby turtles’ journey to the sea.
The Ripple Effect of Your Support on World Turtle Day
Sea turtles are vital to ocean ecosystems. Green sea turtles, for example, graze on seagrass, maintaining healthy seabeds that support fish populations. Their eggs nourish beach vegetation, stabilizing dunes against erosion. But with only seven species left, every turtle counts.
Your contribution on World Turtle Day—whether through purchasing Ocean Sole art, joining as a Turtle Guardian, or making a one-time donation—creates a ripple effect:
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Protecting Mothers and Hatchlings: More rangers mean safer nesting beaches, increasing the number of hatchlings that reach the ocean.
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Empowering Communities: Hiring ex-poachers as rangers provides sustainable livelihoods, reducing reliance on illegal activities.
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Cleaning Our Oceans: Funds support weekly beach cleanups, removing plastic waste that turtles mistake for food.
In 2024 alone, our beach cleanups collected wetsuits, fridge doors, and even turtle shells
How You Can Make a Difference This World Turtle Day
This May 23, honor sea turtles by taking action with Ocean Sole:
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Shop Ocean Sole Art: Browse our collection of turtle sculptures and bring home a piece of conservation. Every purchase funds our TurtleSafe Project.
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Join Turtle Guardian Membership: Sign up at oceansole.com/turtle-guardian to provide ongoing support for rangers and conservation.
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Donate Directly: Contribute to our fundraiser for rangers, flashlights, uniforms, and more at oceansole.com/donate.
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Spread the Word: Share our mission on social media using #WorldTurtleDay and #OceanSole to inspire others.
Together, we can ensure that sea turtles continue their ancient journey for generations to come.
Save Sea Turtles with Ocean Sole
World Turtle Day is more than a celebration—it’s a call to action. At Ocean Sole, we’re fighting for sea turtles with every sculpture we create and every nest we protect. But we can’t do it alone. Poachers are relentless, and our six rangers are stretched to their limits. With your support, we can grow to 30 rangers, equip them with flashlights, headlamps, uniforms, and pepper spray, and provide water to keep them going through the night.
This May 23, make a difference. Buy Ocean Sole art, become a Turtle Guardian, or donate to our TurtleSafe Project. Together, we can turn the tide for sea turtles and build a future where they thrive. Visit oceansole.com today and join our mission.
