Arya Takes A Swim
Arya and Friends Ride the Waves of Friendship, Courage, and Ocean Adventures!
Arya, a brave green turtle hatchling, leads her diverse group of friends—Zoya, Sarah, and Felicia—on a journey from Shell Beach into the vast ocean. Together, they face challenges, form unbreakable bonds, and discover the wonders and threats lurking beneath the waves. As Arya matures, she and her friends take on a mission to protect their ocean home from threats. This heart-warming tale is a celebration of friendship, courage, and environmental stewardship, highlighting the importance of working together to safeguard the oceans and its diverse inhabitants.
Authored by EMC’s Kevin Somwaru, Zoya Samaroo, and Stella Madete, and brought to life through the illustrations of Guyanese artist Roberto Teekah and graphic designer Sheridan Frank, this book aims to spark curiosity and a sense of responsibility among the younger generation towards marine life conservation.
Tale of Resilience and Conservation from the 2023 Turtle Telemetry Program at Shell Beach
Arya’s tale originates from the Turtle Telemetry Program at Shell Beach Protected Area (SBPA) in May/June 2023. The initiative aimed to tag and track sea turtles using satellite transmitters mounted on their shells. Seven turtles were tagged: five leatherbacks, one green turtle, and one hawksbill.
Named after Guyana’s First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Arya Ali, Arya and her companions displayed grace and resilience during the tagging process, inspiring a captivating story. Arya’s story aims to ignite curiosity and passion among Guyana’s youth, prompting them to explore the lives of sea turtles and their habitats. The hope is that, inspired by Arya, the younger generation will grow up with a sense of responsibility to protect and preserve these vital marine creatures and their habitats.
The 2023 Turtle Telemetry Program was implemented by Environmental Management Consultants Inc. (EMC) and the Turtle Conservancy (TC) in collaboration with the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and with the participation of the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) and Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC). This program was supported by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) in fulfilment of regulatory requirements.
