news from the atoll
From First Tracks to Sanctuary: 20 Years of Turtle Conservation
Tetiaroa Society x Te Mana o Te Moana
Twenty years ago , this same time of year, on the almost deserted beaches of Teti’aroa, a scientific team witnessed a green sea turtle hatchling emerge for the very first time.
Fragile yet determined, its tracks became the first data points of what would grow into a conservation program created and led by Te Mana o Te Moana with support from the Polynesian Environment Directorate (DIREN) called the Green Sea Turtle Nesting Monitoring program.
The birth of Tetiaroa Society in 2010 and the arrival of The Brando eco-resort in 2014 strengthened these efforts, transforming careful observation into a fully-fledged sanctuary.
Today, over 1,400 turtle tracks are monitored, up from just 10-15 nests in those early days!
Photo © Alexis Rosenfeld
A Place worth protecting
More than an atoll, Teti’aroa is a sanctuary where the ocean still has space to thrive.
Recognized as a Hope Spot by oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle and Mission Blue in 2019, Teti’aroa is celebrated for its ecological importance and decades of scientific and conservation work.
Through nearly two decades of dedication, Te Mana o Te Moana has led the monitoring and protection of Teti’aroa’s green turtle nesting sites, with Tetiaroa Society, The Brando, and local partners supporting these efforts.
Being a Hope Spot is not an endpoint, it is a responsibility to continue observing, protecting, and sharing knowledge so these ecosystems can endure.
Discover the full Story of Green Sea Turtle Monitoring
In this special video, Dr. Cécile Gaspar, founder of Te Mana o Te Moana, shares her passion and the story behind the Green Sea Turtle Nesting Monitoring of Teti’aroa Atoll: "If it's going to be warmer, it's going to be no babies. We are going very fast into an extinction phase if we don't do something." – Cécile Gaspar
Good news from this season: thanks to added nest thermometers, the first results show 54% males in the hatchling population.
Every nest, every track, every hatchling counts.
It’s turtle nesting season in Teti’aroa at this moment
Every year, from October to April , the beaches come alive with a remarkable journey.
Female turtles return to lay their eggs in the very places where they themselves hatched, instinct guiding them through the rhythm of the ocean .
For nearly two decades , Te Mana o Te Moana, has documented each track, each nest, and every hatchling with patience and dedication.
This 2024–2025 season alone:
- 430 tracks observed
- 161 confirmed nests
- Over 15,600 hatchlings estimated
- 113 female sightings, including 10 new turtles and 9 returning after several years
- 227 hatchlings rescued and released
Each nest tells a story.
Each turtle reminds us of what careful stewardship and collaboration can achieve.
Help Teti’aroa’s turtles thrive for generations to come
Photo © Théo Guillaume
Tetiaroa Society is a US registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID #45-1080688). We host scientific research, develop and implement conservation and education programs, and curate the island's knowledge base. We partner with The Brando to establish Tetiaroa as a model for sustainability, where businesses, non-profits, scientists, educators and the local community work together for common goals. Our program objectives are summarized in our Conservation and Sustainable Use Plan, which is available on our website.