By Olimatou Coker
Under the cover of darkness, a massive mother turtle crawled out of the water to lay eggs on the Gunjur beach. She had already deposited 124 eggs in her nest when her journey took a dangerous turn.
Instead of returning to the ocean, the turtle was on Saturday captured by a man who intended to sell it for D10,000.
What followed was a tense race against time involving community conservationists, volunteers and the police and ultimately the rescue of a turtle so large that seven people struggled to carry her back to the water.
But the story turned to a scintillating tale of compassion and strategic thinking.
According to Abubacarr Saho, leader of the Gunjur Conservationists and Ecotourism Association (CETAG), when his colleagues confronted the poacher and asked him to release the turtle, he refused, saying he intended to sell it.
Using his professional skills, Abubacarr offered to buy the turtle, asking the poacher how much he wanted for it and the man reportedly demanded D10,000.
But Abubacarr surprisingly offered him D15,000 and urged the man to wait while he go home to bring the money.
Unsuspectingly, the poacher waited but instead of the money Abubacarr returned with fellow conservationists and some police officers.
Confronted by the troop of men, the poacher said he had already released the animal back into the water and there was nothing to sell,
The conservationists were not convinced. They followed him to the house and there they found the animal tied up. The team carefully cut the rope and began the difficult task of carrying it back to the sea.
However instead of escalating the situation and seeking to prosecute the poacher, the team lectured him on the importance of protecting marine turtles and given his consummating skills in identifying and spotting nesting turtles, they encouraged him to work with them .The poacher accepted.
The encounter highlighted extraordinary efforts being done to fight against continuing threats faced by marine turtles along The Gambia’s coastline, including poaching, the illegal collection of eggs and entanglement in discarded fishing gear.
For CETAG volunteers, every rescued turtle represents another chance to protect the fragile marine ecosystem on which coastal communities depend.