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The Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network(SSTCN)

Conserves endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles by patrolling Chennai beaches, relocating eggs, and educating the public through guided walks

  • 80G
  • 12A
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About

  • Headquarters

    Chennai, Tamil Nadu

  • Since

    1987

The Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network, founded in 1987, comprises mainly students and young adults dedicated to conserving and raising awarenes Read mores about the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle on Chennai's beaches. It focuses on the nesting season between January and April, patrolling nightly with the Forest Department to locate and relocate turtle eggs to a safe hatchery. After 45 days, it releases the hatchlings into the sea. Additionally, SSTCN hosts weekend walks, in collaboration with Chennai Wildlife Division staff, to engage and educate interested individuals about their conservation efforts.


Action

SSTCN patrols beaches nightly during nesting season to collect and relocate turtle eggs to protected hatcheries, conducts educational turtle walks for the public, and releases hatchlings safely into the sea.

Demographies Served

Cause Area

Sector

Sub Sector

Impact

Since its founding, SSTCN has protected thousands of turtle nests, released over 200,000 hatchlings, and educated tens of thousands of people through its awareness programs and turtle walks.

Vision & Mission

SSTCN aims to ensure the conservation and continued presence of sea turtles on the Chennai coast through direct conservation action, research, and public education to create awareness about turtles and broader marine ecosystem issues.

Programs

  • Turtle Walks Programme

    District

    State

    The programme conducts turtle walks from January to March, focusing on beach patrols to locate eggs and witness nesting turtles. While the process is beautiful, it's sad to aid creatures that survived independently for millions of years and are now threatened due to technology. With all seven sea turtle species critically endangered, the programme intervenes to protect them. Walks cover seven kilometres from Neelangarai Beach to Besant Nagar Beach, starting at 11:30 pm with discussions on turtles and the environment, concluding at 4 am or 5 am based on nest discoveries. Access Neelangarai Beach by turning off next to Shanthi Hospital, and parking at Elliots Beach. Students interested in joining walks or witnessing hatchling releases in March and April are welcome.

Milestones & Track Record

SSTCN has successfully advocated for government orders to switch off beach lights during nesting season and remove harmful casuarina plantations, expanded to cover multiple beach stretches, and sustained volunteer-run conservation efforts for over 30 years.

Leadership Team

  • Arun Venkataramanan

    Trustee

  • Akila Balu

    Trustee

  • Adith Swaminathan

    Trustee

Demographics & Structure

  • No. of Employees

    21-50

M&E

  • Internal, External Assessors

    No

Policies

  • Ethics and Transparency Policies

    No

  • Formal CEO Oversight & Compensation Policy

    No

Political & Religious Declarations

  • On Affiliation if any

    No

  • On Deployment Bias if any

    No

Registration Details

  • PAN Card

    NA

  • VO ID / Darpan ID

    NA

  • 12A

    NA

  • 80G

    NA

  • FCRA

    Not Available

  • CSR Registration Number

    Not Available

Location

Other Details

  • Type & Sub Type

    Non-profit
    Other

Website

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