During the nesting season, the YPI team is usually busy monitoring the mother turtles that come ashore, as well as securing their nests. The two species found on Sipora Island are the leatherback turtle, the largest sea turtle species in the world, and the olive ridley turtle, the smallest. The nesting season does not last all year on Sipora Island — the mother turtles stop coming ashore to Buggeisiata Beach from June to September. This nesting break is used by the Yayasan Penyu Indonesia (YPI) team to ignite a spirit of knowledge-sharing. Their activities shift from the beach to learning spaces with local children.
Educational Activities During the Nesting Break
During the 2025 nesting break on Sipora Island, we carried out educational activities at four locations: SDN 15 Betumoga, Our Ocean School, English Mapadegat School, and SD Kristen Cahaya Bangsa. A total of 205 children participated in various activities such as environmental drama, interactive presentations, and turtle conservation-themed games.
The series of educational events began a week before World Sea Turtle Day in June. At SDN 15 Betumoga, we performed a drama about the journey of hatchlings to the sea — a story that helped the children understand the difficult struggle turtles face to survive and why we must protect them.
Next, the educational activities at Our Ocean School and English Mapadegat School invited children to learn about real threats to turtles, such as egg theft, poaching, and habitat destruction. They were also introduced to the profession of turtle rangers and took part in a hands-on simulation of relocating replica turtle nests.
In the final month of the nesting break, in September, an educational session was held at SD Kristen Cahaya Bangsa. The YPI team delivered a presentation and opened a Q&A session with the participants.
Basecamp as a Learning Space
In Matuptupan Village, the YPI Basecamp serves not only as a place for administrative work but also as a hub of educational spirit. Children living nearby often gather there to learn — from watching environmental films to coloring turtle drawings. These simple activities are hoped to help children become more familiar with endangered marine species.
Amelia Silalahi, YPI’s Program Coordinator in Sipora, also regularly teaches English to elementary school children who come to the basecamp, encouraging a broader enthusiasm for learning.
Sowing Hope on Sipora Island
The YPI team distributed books, games, and brochures about turtle conservation and their habitats. These materials serve as reminders that learning continues even after the activities end. Education is not merely something to do during the nesting break — it is part of a long journey in sea turtle conservation in the Mentawai Islands. Children who grow up with a close connection to their natural surroundings are more likely to develop love and responsibility for protecting it.
