Yemeni Volunteer Spends More Than 15 Years Guarding Turtles on Al-Mahra Coast

For more than 15 years, Hafiz Kalshat has spent his nights watching over sea turtles on Al-Damr beach in Yemen’s Al-Mahra governorate.

Working as a volunteer, Kalshat clears fishing nets and waste from the turtles’ path. His efforts keep their route along the shore free of obstacles.

He also watches over their nests, staying on the coast until dawn. The long overnight vigil is central to his role as their guardian.

Kalshat’s story is one of sustained, hands-on care: clearing the beach and keeping watch, night after night, for the marine animals that reach this stretch of Yemen’s coast.