Huang Cheng patrols on the Beidao Island, part of the Qilianyu Islands in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)
SANSHA, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Huang Cheng, director of the community of Beidao Island, patrols the island daily to protect sea turtles and their eggs.
Besides turtle protection, Huang also needs to collect marine pollutants and restore the environment on the island.
"Sea turtles are very sensitive to environmental change, which affects their life and hatching," he said.
Huang Cheng followed the footsteps of his father Huang Hongbo.
Back in the 1980s, China listed sea turtles under state protection and has since enhanced measures to prohibit the capture and trade of sea turtles and their eggs. Local fishermen were educated and encouraged to take up the job of turtle protection.
Huang Hongbo was a veteran fisherman who knew a lot about the habits of sea turtles. He was invited to head the turtle protection station of Beidao Island in 2015.
Through joint efforts from Huang's family and local authorities, about 150 turtle nests have been found on the island in 2022 from around 90 nests in 2015.
This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2023 shows a newly-hatched sea turtle on the Beidao Island, part of the Qilianyu Islands in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)
Huang Cheng saves sea turtles on the Beidao Island, part of the Qilianyu Islands in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)
Huang Cheng releases sea turtles into the sea on the Beidao Island, part of the Qilianyu Islands in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)
This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2023 shows newly-hatched sea turtles on the Beidao Island, part of the Qilianyu Islands in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)
This aerial photo taken on July 23, 2022 shows the Beidao Island, part of the Qilianyu Islands in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)
Huang Cheng checks the footprints of sea turtles on the Beidao Island, part of the Qilianyu Islands in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)
Huang Hongbo looks at a family photo at home in Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)
Huang Cheng poses for a photo with sea turtles he saved in front of the turtle protection center of Beidao Island, part of the Qilianyu Islands in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)■
