Kahindi Changawa Galo Marine Conservationist

Coastweek - - Kahindi Changawa Galo was born into a family of seven, 27 years ago.

His village, Dongo Kundu in Kenya, is near the Watamu National Marine Park, one of the oldest marine parks in the world and part of a UN Biosphere Area.

In 2001 Mr. Galo took over his father's job when he retired, as housekeeper at the Local Ocean Trust / Watamu Turtle Watch house and office.

The Local Ocean Trust's flag ship programme, Watamu Turtle Watch (which has been funded by Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund), is primarily concerned with sea turtle protection, including nest protection, and sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation supported by community education and awareness programs.

He soon became fascinated with the concept of turtle protection and marine conservation.

His previous turtle experience was confined to acknowledge of fishermen slaughtering sea turtles for food, or selling their shells to tourists. Mr. Galo started to volunteer his time to the project, after work.

He quickly learned turtle conservation protocols, devoured information and became a part of the team.

His work in the beginning was practical, simply patrolling the beaches, identifying turtle nesting sites and ensuring they were protected from poachers throughout incubation to hatching, and rescuing and tagging turtles caught as incidental by-catch.

He learned how to drive, and then moved on to mastering the computer, learning the keys while the computer was off so that he could help input data.

In 2002 Mr. Galo was made a field manager. Using his position of trust in the community, helped persuade the fishing communities to integrate marine conservation practices and turtle protection into their lives, a seemingly impossible task in this day and age.

Within a year of his appointment he had assisted the Project Manager in establishing 11 fishermen's conservation groups in the Watamu area and had helped develop alternative income generating ideas including training fishermen to become eco tour guides and to set up tree nurseries.

He has also assisted in the education of hundreds children and has helped establish a number of Wildlife Clubs and Sea Turtle Conservation Clubs in the local area.

He even inspired over 4,000 local children to spend six weeks cleaning up the beaches after a shipwreck.

Mr. Galo also works with local hotels and tourists in raising public awareness; organizing beach clean ups and school day events involving local drama, poetry recitals and competitions.

In addition to his daytime work, he still voluntarily patrols the beaches at night, which means that he often works an 18-hour day and a six-day week, particularly in the height of the turtle-nesting season.

Mr. Galo's selfless dedication to Watamu Turtle Watch project's work and his passion to promote the much needed conservation of the marine world for future generations makes him a conservation hero.

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Personal Comment:

Well done Kahindi Changawa Galo!! You safe thousands if not millions of lives with your dedication. Keep it up and hopefully many others will join you.

Simba