The Wider Image: Love of sea turtles turns Philippine poachers

Johnny Manlugay, 55, who used to hunt and is now using his skills to help marine turtle conservation, transfers cooked rice into a container, as he prepares to go to a construction job, at home in San Juan, La Union, Philippines, January 13, 2023. Manlugay, who used to hunt sea turtles and their eggs, now uses his skills to find the nests and turn them over to CURMA, or the Coastal Underwater Resource Management Action, which has turned poachers like him into its allies by offering them incentives and training, allowing it to save thousands of turtles and their eggs from ending up in markets and on plates. “I’ve learned to love this work,” said Manlugay. “We didn’t know poaching was illegal and that we should not eat turtle eggs and meat.” REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez