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India’s ‘Turtle Man’ honored at US film awards
Indian conservationist Satish Bhaskar is celebrated in an award-winning documentary, which chronicles his groundbreaking research and dedication to protecting marine life.
Satish Bhaskar / website- iotn.org
Satish Bhaskar, India’s renowned "Turtle Man”, is being celebrated posthumously for his groundbreaking contributions to sea turtle conservation.
His remarkable journey, which saw him walk most of India’s 7,516 km coastline in the 1970s to identify and mark sea turtle habitats, is the subject of the award-winning documentary Turtle Walker by filmmaker Taira Malaney. The film won the prestigious Grand Teton Award at the Jackson Wild Media Awards early this year, cementing Bhaskar’s legacy in conservation.
And it was recently screened at DOC NYC.
In the early 1970s, Bhaskar joined the Madras Snake Park, where his passion for marine life led him to focus on sea turtles. He initiated nocturnal beach walks to protect Ridley turtle nests and quickly became India’s foremost sea turtle expert. Armed with minimal resources—a small transistor and basic information—he conducted extensive surveys across India, the Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, compiling nearly 50 reports on his findings. His pioneering work laid the foundation for turtle conservation across the country.
His surveys took him to diverse locations, including Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman Islands, where he conducted studies on hawksbill turtles. One of his most notable feats was marooning himself on Suhelipara Island during the monsoon to study green sea turtle nesting. His letter in a bottle from that time famously reached his wife 24 days later.
Bhaskar’s influence extended beyond India. In West Papua, Indonesia, he conducted a survey that resulted in the tagging of over 700 leatherback turtles. He also initiated a monitoring program for hawksbill turtles on South Reef Island. His work was instrumental in raising global awareness for sea turtle conservation, and he mentored several young naturalists, including Aaron Lobo, who would later join him on a trip to the Gulf of Mannar in 2004, where they narrowly escaped the tsunami.
In 2010, Bhaskar was honored with the Sea Turtle Champion’s Award, although he declined to attend the ceremony.
In 2018, Malaney began work on the documentary Turtle Walker, which chronicles Bhaskar’s life and legacy. During the film’s production, at the age of 73 and battling pain, Bhaskar returned to South Reef Island, swimming to the island despite its altered topography. This poignant moment captured his unyielding spirit and dedication to his cause.
Bhaskar passed away in March 2023, shortly after the death of his wife Brenda in October 2022. His life’s work continues to inspire conservation efforts, including a marine mammal rescue network in Goa, which embodies his hands-on approach to environmental protection.
Turtle Walker is a tribute to Bhaskar’s enduring legacy and a meditation on the transformative power of nature. Through his work, Satish demonstrated how one person’s dedication can spark a ripple effect, inspiring change and fostering a deep connection to the natural world.
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