Men rescue sea turtles from Papua New Guinea market

In 2015, two men in Papua New Guinea demonstrated compassion by rescuing two live sea turtles from a local food market. Arron Culling and his coworker, Mark, purchased the turtles with their own money to prevent them from being sold for consumption.

After buying the turtles for approximately $50, the pair carefully transported them by boat to a suitable release site about five kilometers away. Photographs documenting the rescue show the turtles being handled with care before they were returned to the ocean, swimming safely back into their natural habitat.

The images gained significant attention online and continue to circulate, serving as a reminder of how individual actions can contribute to wildlife conservation. Culling revealed that this was not an isolated incident, as he and Mark had previously rescued around 10 turtles found in similar circumstances, always using their personal funds.

Sea turtles are part of the traditional diet in some coastal communities in Papua New Guinea, and customary harvesting for subsistence and cultural purposes remains legal in certain areas. However, the country is home to several threatened sea turtle species, creating a complex conservation landscape that balances Indigenous traditions, local livelihoods, and the protection of vulnerable marine life. The market where the turtles were found exemplifies this reality, where internationally protected species can still be legally sold under customary practices.

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this was not their first sea turtle rescue