Under a fiery nocturnal lamp, a lifesaving beach rescue of exhausted turtle earns Spanish photographer major award
Spanish photographer Miguel Serrano Ruiz spent a month documenting vital turtle conservation efforts in Baja California, Mexico, winning an Ocean Photographer of the Year award
In the still of night, a Mexican beach witnessed a life-saving rescue of an olive ridley sea turtle. Conservation worker Isreal Oblea, using a nocturnal lamp, assisted the exhausted turtle in relocating her newly laid eggs from the shoreline to a safer location on the beach. The mother turtle had ventured too close to the water, putting her eggs at risk of being washed away by the incoming tide.
Spanish photographer Miguel SR captured this heartwarming moment as part of a series, which has now been honored with the "Portfolio" category award at the 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards. Oblea's selfless actions ensured that the turtle's offspring would have a fighting chance at life.
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