On a Fijian Island, Hunters Become Conservators of Endangered Turtles

A man underwater holding a large sea turtle with a patterned shell and flippers.

Pita Qarau pulled his boat next to a turtle, which was trying desperately to flee the buzz of the boat’s noisy engine. The turtle, a female hawksbill, was surprisingly fast, capable of a top speed of about 15 miles per hour.

But Mr. Qarau knew he could win the sprint. He lost the turtle momentarily, then circled back. Finally, as the turtle slowed down, he positioned the boat near the fatigued animal. He threw his engine into neutral and dived into the water.

Seconds later, he re-emerged, holding on to a chaotic mess of flapping flippers.

Not long ago, a catch like this would have meant turtle for dinner, but Mr. Qarau would let this one go. He checked the turtle’s health, but he was unable to tag it, as he had intended, because he had run out of tags.

Text by Serena Solomon

Full Story

Children and a woman on a beach; a boy with goggles and a water jug in the foreground, a girl walking, a woman holding a cellphone, and a boat with two men in the background, the sky partly cloudy over the ocean.
People washing dishes outside on a grassy yard with chickens and puppies, in front of a wooden house during sunset.
Children in school uniforms sitting and standing under a large tree with a hammock and black netting, some engaging with each other, in an outdoor setting.
People, including children, on a beach during sunset, with one child holding a fishing rod over the sand, and others sitting or standing watching.
People swimming in the ocean near yellow and orange buoys, with a blue sky and clouds above.
Person falling off a boat into the ocean near a mountainous island, with an outboard motor attached to the boat
A man swimming in clear ocean water holding a large sea turtle.
Indoors with a family gathering, children outside, rustic wooden walls, a stove, and various kitchen items visible.
A boy squatting on a beach with his dog, looking at the ocean during sunset or dusk, with clouds on the horizon and a distant landmass.
A person sitting in a small boat on a beach at night, looking at the starry sky.