Yudmila Chunguane

I am Yudmila Luís Chunguane, an experienced marine biologist from Mozambique with a passion for conservation, an enthusiastic diver and 2023 Conservation Nation Grantee. I have been studying marine ecosystems and currently I am finishing my master degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology at Eduardo Mondlane University. Throughout my career I have been part of a wide range of conservation projects working with different ecosystems and species, from seagrasses, mangroves, corals, dugongs and ocean acidification and thanks to my academic background in biology and conservation I had the opportunity to work on projects that address not only the problems of biodiversity conservation but also the role of the local communities in protecting these ecosystems.

I joined a grassroots conservation charity (Love The Oceans) as an intern at the beginning of 2023 through Biofund’s Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM) where I was able to expand my skills and support the work that they were doing.
I’m now part of Love The Oceans’ team working to protect marine life in Jangamo Bay using a holistic strategy. Since then I designed, implemented and delivered an ocean literacy syllabus, the first of its kind in Jangamo community reaching adults of all ages; Led sustainable fishing community meetings and delivered sustainability lectures communicating scientific findings; I am the project leader of Preventing the Ecological Collapse of Reef Systems in Mozambique project

LOCATION:	Cape Town	AREA OF STUDY:	Sea Turtle Rescue
NATIONALITY:	Mozambique	SPONSOR:
FILMMAKER:	Tom Dixon

START DATE:	27th August
END DATE:	2nd September
LOCATION:	Cape Town
END POINT:	Mozambique

AREA OF STUDY:	Sea Turtle Rescue
SPONSOR:
FILMMAKER:	Tom Dixon

Area of Study: Sea Turtle Rescue

I was working at the Turtle Conservation Centre at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation in Cape Town. The centre focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing endangered sea turtles, mainly leatherbacks and loggerheads that become stranded along the coastline, especially due to cold-water shock. These strandings occur from the west to the east of Cape Town, and the centre relies on a dedicated turtle rescue network that relies on over 2,000 people composed by volunteers and partner organizations that patrol the beaches and transport any stranded turtles to the facility.

Once at the centre, each turtle pass through a full assessment. The team evaluates their nutritional status, monitors their feeding behaviour, performs medical checks, and provides life support if necessary. They also introduce enrichment activities to stimulate the turtles mentally and physically during recovery. If a turtle responds well across all areas: nutrition, health, life support, and enrichment, it becomes eligible for release.

When ready, turtles are taken by boat to warmer offshore waters where they have the best chance of survival. The ultimate goal is to return these animals to the wild in good health, contributing to the conservation of these critically endangered and vulnerable species.