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Sea Turtle StoriesA podcast series by Olive Ridley Project Author: Olive Ridley Project
Sea turtles, one of the most ancient species of our world have truly stood the test of time. They have seen human civilisations rise and fall, inspired ocean deities across cultures, and baffled scientists with their unique instincts - one of which is a hatchling's impulse to orient itself in the direction of the sea, straight from its nest. In an effort to uncover the mysterious lives of these sea creatures, we bring you our podcast series on all things sea turtle. Join us as we dive into conversations with experts from around the world, simplifying complexities of sea turtle science, culture, and conservation. About Olive Ridley Project : The Olive Ridley Project (ORP), a charity founded in 2013, registered in England & Wales, Maldives and Kenya, is on a mission to protect sea turtles and their habitats through rescue and conservation medicine, scientific research, and education and outreach. Headquartered in the UK, we currently operate in Kenya, Maldives, Pakistan, Oman and Seychelles, where we are supported by a passionate and dedicated team of scientists, veterinarians, conservationists, citizen scientists and volunteers. For more information, visit us at oliveridleyproject.org, or for queries write to us at info@oliveridleyproject.org. Language: en Genres: Education, Nature, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Rethinking Sea Turtle Conservation (Part 2) - With Dr Kartik Shanker
Episode 9
Tuesday, 1 April, 2025
"There is no such thing as a sea turtle expert!" Dr. Kartik chuckles, recalling veteran biologist Dr. Jack Frazier’s words. "Sea turtles will always find a way to do something that baffles you." Although lighthearted, Dr Kartik's remark speaks to his instinctive curiosity and ever-evolving understanding of sea turtles. A leading scientist and sea turtle conservationist from India, Dr Kartik Shanker is a strong advocate for decolonising sea turtle conservation and embracing more pluralistic ways of engaging with nature - a notion that he weaves throughout this candid conversation.Part one of this bonus episode begins with Dr Kartik exploring the enduring mysteries of arribada (mass nesting events that continue to baffle researchers). But the discussion soon takes a deeper turn, examining how conservation practice often prioritises visible, emotionally charged threats while overlooking the more complex, intangible challenges facing sea turtles.The conversation on conservation conundrums continues in part two of the episode, where Dr. Kartik confronts one of the most side-stepped topics in sea turtle conservation: the consumptive use of sea turtles. He critiques the dominant philosophy of protectionism, questioning its unintended consequences and urging the conservation community to reconsider its approach.This episode goes beyond sea turtles, it tackles the larger idea of how we perceive our relationship with nature and the very practice of conservation itself. So tune in now for a conversation that challenges the status quo and raises some tough questions.Further Reading, Sources & References:Shanker, K., Pandav, B., & Choudhury, B. C. (2004). An assessment of the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) nesting population in Orissa, India. Biological Conservation.Shanker, K. (2015). From soup to superstar. HarperCollins Publishers IndiaR, H. (2021). The conservation paradox: Missing the meadows for the green turtles. RoundGlass Sustain.Sardeshpande, M., & MacMillan, D. (2018). Sea turtles support sustainable livelihoods at Ostional, Costa Rica. Cambridge University Press.Brockington, D. (2002). Fortress conservation: The preservation of the Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania (Vol. 13). James Currey.Kartel Shockington: Kartel Shockington is a failed comic book creation with special powers of rapid hair loss. He sometimes appears as Kartik Shanker, and at other times as Dan BrockingtonShanker, K., Early Capistrán, M. M., Urteaga, J., Mohd Jani, J., Barrios-Garrido, H., & Wallace, B. P. (2023).
