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Cousin Island Special Reserve, Seychelles
How I Became a Professional Turtle Supervisor and Midwife

Hello! I’m Charlotte, a 20-year-old former volunteer on Cousin Island. My journey began a year ago in January 2024, completely unaware of how much my time on the island would shape me. I spent three months in paradise doing my absolute dream job—being a professional turtle supervisor and midwife! The challenges I faced allowed me to grow both physically and mentally.

On my first day, I was warmly welcomed by the team on Cousin Island. Right after my arrival, I saw my first nesting Hawksbill turtle. After some rest, I received full turtle training the next day. We went on patrol at 8 AM and encountered two nesting turtles. Right after the patrol, we faced an emergency translocation to prevent a turtle nest from being washed away by the waves, followed by a few hatchling excavations. The main tasks during my stay included patrols, excavations, and translocations, all aimed at collecting data for the long-term monitoring of Hawksbill turtles on Cousin. In addition to these tasks, I participated in beach profiling, shearwater census, and bird ringing, including species like the Seychelles Magpie Robin and the Seychelles Fody.

During my free time, I enjoyed surfing, bodyboarding, snorkelling, or just appreciating the diverse nature and wildlife on Cousin Island. My all-time favourite activities were the snorkelling sessions, whether it was a three-hour weekend adventure or a quick sunset snorkel during the week. I developed a deep admiration for the ocean. The numerous sharks, incredible shoals of fish, vibrant reefs, stingrays, and the Green and Hawksbill turtles swimming gracefully were all part of a truly magnificent experience.

I learned many valuable lessons on the island, with the most important being that life is not solely about being better, faster, or stronger; it’s about appreciating the small things. Watching turtles come ashore to nest and, two months later, witnessing hatchlings make their way to the sea was the most wonderful miracle I’ve ever experienced. While the job can be demanding—especially when you have a complicated turtle that requires a lot of patience—at the end of the day, you can reflect on the impact your work has. No one can do everything, but everyone can contribute something toward a better future! We must learn to respect and protect what we have, and Cousin, with its monitoring programs and eco-tourism initiatives, is a great example of raising awareness about conservation and its importance.

The best decision I’ve ever made was to apply for volunteering on Cousin Island, and because I enjoyed my first experience so much, I applied again! I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to return for another round of volunteering and once again enjoyed it immensely.

My memories include my first turtle, my first time tagging a turtle, my first hatchling, witnessing the record-breaking SXX 1916 turtle lay an astonishing 264 eggs on Fregate, the memorable snorkelling excursions, the wonderful people I met, and everything I learned about nature, wildlife, and ecology on that island—those are the memories I will cherish for the rest of my life!