Billion Baby Turtles supports sea turtle conservation organizations that work to protect sea turtle hatchlings around the world. The funds go towards paying local residents to patrol important turtle nesting beaches, protecting turtles that come up to nest, and ensuring that the eggs are protected and the hatchlings reach the ocean. To date, we have saved more than 10 million hatchlings at more than 60 beaches in 25 countries!

How Does Billion Baby Turtles Work?

SEE Turtles raises funds for turtle hatchling conservation from individuals, school fundraisers, green businesses, and proceeds from our sea turtle tours. The funds are used to cover the costs of hiring local residents to patrol turtle nesting beaches and protecting the turtles and their nests. On average, we have helped save 10 hatchlings for every $1 donated.

Where Do The Donations Go?

This funding goes to community-based turtle organizations at key nesting beaches. In addition, the funds are used to build and maintain hatcheries where the eggs are protected until they hatch and are released to the ocean. We prioritize nesting beach projects that protect the most endangered turtle species and populations, organizations with less stable sources of funding, and ones that have more immediate threats like consumption of turtle eggs and meat and hunting. Check out our partners here. 

Will You Really Save A Billion Hatchlings?

A billion is a very big number. We will ever reach it? Who knows, but we feel that an ambitious goal is important and that the title will help to draw more attention--it already is! We do know that we can save millions of turtles per year and grow that number every year. We have already saved more than 10 million hatchlings and counting!

How Do You Calculate the 10 Hatchlings Saved Per Dollar Donated?

Each organization that works on nesting beaches that we support provides information including their total budget and the average number of hatchlings that survive per season. With this information, we track the number of hatchlings saved per amount donate for each project and then average all of them for the year. The average since 2017 has been more than 10 hatchlings per dollar given.

How Much Do You Keep For Administrative Costs?

We send at least 85% of donations to our partner nesting beaches. 5% of donations are invested into scholarships for members of communities around sea turtle nesting beaches through our Sea Turtle Inclusivity Fund and 10% goes to administrative costs including covering staff time to manage the program and credit card processing fees.

More questions about Billion Baby Turtles or SEE Turtles? Contact us here.

Photo credits: Paso Pacifico, Mark Sullivan/NOAA, Michael Liles