Thomas Taluta, a 12-year-old boy from Jerusu Village, Romang Sub-district, is a 6th grade student at Jerusu Village Christian Elementary School. Thomas is known as a child who likes to play on the beach, close to nature, or recognized by residents as a child who likes to help others. He and his friends usually gather at the village beach, where they play and observe the marine life that is familiar to the people of Jerusu.

ghost net) stuck on the shore. From a distance it looked like ordinary trash, but when he got closer, he found a small Hawksbill Turtle entangled in it. The turtle tried to move, but the tangled net left it helpless.

ghost net. He took it home and cared for it temporarily in a tub of water at his home. For a child his age, this may seem like a simple act. But in the midst of the threats facing sea turtles today, Thomas' actions are a small example of how one child's concern can make a difference.

At the same time (October 3-7, 2025), WWF Indonesia Foundation was conducting a socio-economic and coastal utilization survey in Jerusu Village. Thomas' father then approached the WWF team, informing them that his son had found a turtle that was being cared for at home. This information led the WWF-ID team to Thomas' family home, only about 50 meters from the lodge.

The WWF team checked the condition of the turtle and collected data. The individual was identified as a juvenile Hawksbill Turtle with a carapace length of 37.8 cm. One of the critically endangered species according to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and a fully protected species in Indonesia.

After discussions with the family, the WWF team managed to convince Thomas and his parents that the turtle should be released back to its natural habitat. On Monday, October 6, 2025, the release process was carried out directly by Thomas, accompanied by the WWF-Indonesia team. The moment was not only the return of a turtle to the sea, but also the first step in fostering a sense of ownership and environmental awareness in the younger generation of Jerusu.

The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) plays an important role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. Hawksbill turtles help control populations of sponges and other small organisms on coral reefs. Without turtles, some types of sponges can overgrow and smother corals, causing a disruption of the basic food chain in tropical ecosystems.

In addition, sea turtles also transfer nutrients between land and sea. When they lay their eggs on beaches, some of the nutrients from unhatched eggs are absorbed by sand and beach vegetation, enriching coastal ecosystems. Losing sea turtles means losing one of the natural mechanisms that keeps marine and coastal ecosystems in balance.

WWF-Indonesia's survey noted that the Jerusu community needs socialization and education related to protected and endangered marine species because it was identified that there are still utilization activities in the community. The experience with Thomas shows that early environmental education, especially at the elementary and junior high school levels, is very important to build a new awareness: that sea turtles are not just animals found on the beach, but guardians of the marine balance that must be protected.