land. water. wildlife.

On the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) is honoring the origins of its sea turtle monitoring program, which is one of the longest-running sea turtle conservation efforts in the world. In 1959, nighttime patrols to protect loggerhead sea turtles began on Sanibel Island. 

Six decades later, SCCF continues that work by monitoring loggerhead, leatherback, green, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles on both Captiva and Sanibel Islands. SCCF's Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan and Sea Turtle Program Founder Charles LeBuff join host Barbara Linstrom to talk about how early conservation efforts have led to a more diverse and greater number of nesting sea turtles on both islands. LeBuff also explains his pioneering role in getting federal protections for loggerheads to keep them from being killed and harvested through the Endangered Species Act in 1973. 

To learn more about Charles LeBuff's pioneering work, click here.

To find out more about SCCF's current work on sea turtles, which includes several research projects, click here.