
By Christine Figgener, Jane Billinghurst (Translator)
A scientist battles to save sea turtles from environmental threats and human indifference.
Christine Figgener's journey from an industrial town to Costa Rica's vibrant coast reveals her dedication to sea turtles. Amidst tropical storms and nighttime patrols, she faces the challenges of conservation in a male-dominated field. Her story, sparked by a viral video of a turtle's plastic straw ordeal, inspires a global movement and urges readers to rethink their impact on these ancient creatures' survival.
“A WONDERFUL READ … Christine’s deep love for turtles comes through on each page.”–CRAIG FOSTER, MY OCTOPUS TEACHER “Will appeal to anyone interested in the world around us.”–DR. JANE GOODALL Filled with reverence and wonder for the natural world, this captivating book reveals the secret life of sea turtles, one of the oldest living creatures on Earth, and the story of one female scientist’s fight to save their future. In 2015, a team of researchers carefully removed a plastic straw from a sea turtle’s nostril off the coast of Costa Rica. The disturbing incident, which was captured on video, went viral, leading to corporate straw bans around the world. In this evocative book, reminiscent of Jane Goodall’s memoir In the Shadow of Man, the marine biologist behind the camera, Christine Figgener, recounts her own life spent studying and protecting sea turtles. From the time she was a young girl, Figgener was determined to become a biologist, and study the marvels of the marine world. In My Life With Sea Turtles, she shares how she went from a small, gray town on the edge of industry to the lush coastline of Costa Rica, where she fell in love with the local environment and its famous residents: the sea turtles. Figgener describes patrolling the beach at night, swimming with turtles in the open ocean, watching tiny turtles emerge from sandy nests, and risking her life during tropical storms. We learn about her experience as a woman in conservation, a male dominated space where she struggles to be taken seriously. Through discovering the fascinating science of sea turtles and the threats they face today, readers will be inspired to live their own lives differently to ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures. Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute
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