My Life with Sea Turtles: A Marine Biologist’s Quest to Protect One of the Most Ancient Animals on Earth

by Christine Figgener, Jane Billinghurst (Translator)

“A wonderful book that will appeal to anyone interested in the world around us.”—DR. JANE GOODALL

Filled with reverence and wonder for the natural world, this captivating book reveals the secret life of sea turtles, one of the oldest living creatures on Earth, alongside one female scientist’s fight to save their future.

In 2015, a team of researchers carefully removed a plastic straw from a sea turtle’s nostril off the coast of Costa Rica. The disturbing incident, which was captured on video, went viral, leading to corporate straw bans around the world. In this evocative book, reminiscent of Jane Goodall’s memoir In the Shadow of Man , the marine biologist behind the camera, Christine Figgener, recounts her own life spent studying and protecting sea turtles.

From the time she was a young girl, Figgener was determined to become a biologist, and study the marvels of the marine world. In My Life With Sea Turtles , she shares how she went from a small, gray town on the edge of industry to the lush coastline of Costa Rica, where she fell in love with the local environment and its famous the sea turtles.

Figgener describes patrolling the beach at night, swimming with turtles in the open ocean, watching tiny turtles emerge from sandy nests, and risking her life during tropical storms. We learn about her experience as a woman in conservation, a male dominated space where she struggles to be taken seriously. Through discovering the fascinating science of sea turtles and the threats they face today, readers will be inspired to live their own lives differently to ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Science, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Biology

280 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2023

About the author

Christine Figgener, born in 1983 in Haltern am See in Germany, studied biology in Tübingen and Würzburg and earned her PhD in marine biology from Texas A&M University.

Together with her husband and dog Fiona, she lives in Costa Rica, where she has been researching sea turtles and fighting to protect them since 2007. She founded the conservation organization COASTS (www.coasts-cr.org) and the consultancy Nāmaka Conservation Science.

As @seaturtlebiologist, she swims on Instagram and YouTube through the vast expanses of the internet.

More information about Christine, her work and how to support: ww.seaturtlebiologist.com

Reviews

[Vic Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christine Figgeener's "My Live With Sea Turtles" is as much an autobiography as it is a book about sea turtles. While Figgener has led an interesting life I was really here for the turtles.

I did learn a lot about said turtles but considering I didn't really know anything about them to begin with, that isn't a surprise. It did surprise me how little we actually know about these creatures outside of their nesting habits. I was also surprised to learn it can take up to 45 years for a sea turtle to reach sexual maturity. Sea turtles have also lost the ability to withdraw their heads and limbs inside their shell as their landbound cousins do.

Figgener's writing is sharp and clear, just like you expect from a scientist. She is also unafraid of being critical of some of the ways government's and NGOs go about managing dwindling sea turtle numbers. She was also very good about pointing out how these programs often overlook local populations and how their work impacts these locals. She points out that if you don't have the support of the locals you're bound to fail in any conservation effort.

"My Life With Sea Turtles" is a good introductory book for anyone interested in sea turtles. It is also an excellent "coming of age" story about how a little girl in Germany dreamed of working with sea turtles and grew up, despite the discouragement and mysogony of so many around her, to travel to the other side of the world (Costa Rica) to do just that.

[Raphaëlle Simard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je suis à un cheveu de tout lâcher pour devenir biologiste marine et aller vivre au Costa Rica pour sauver les tortues🐢

Fun fact : le sexe des tortues de mer est déterminé par la température du sable pendant l’incubation des œufs (température plus chaude = plus de femelles, température plus froide = plus de mâles)

[Mercedes Hintz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein sehr schönes Buch, was das Leben in Costa Rica in solchen Schutzprojekten, für Meeresschildkröten, sehr gut darstellt. Ich kann es nur jedem empfehlen.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young woman in college, this book truly inspired me to pursue my love of biology. I was on the fence but Dr. Figgener’s experience and passion for turtles was inspiring to read! This book meant so much to me and I wish I could thank her personally. Please give this book a read. It tells an amazing story about turtles, their lives, and Dr. Figgener’s life as a biologist studying one of Earth’s most amazing creatures.

[Alexcanislupus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sehr informativ (das habe ich auch erwertet) und (überraschend) unterhaltsam. Besonders haben mir folgende Anekdoten gefallen: Wie man sich versehentlich an einem Krokodil anklebt und dass weiße Frauen keine Kinder kriegen können.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein sehr spannendes Buch mit einem guten Grundwissen der Zoologie. Die Mischung aus Wissen, Erfahrung und der persönlichen Entwicklung der Autorin bringt dieses Buch dem Leser sehr nah.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both informative and well-written, and I highly recommend it to conservationists, marine biologists, ocean and marine life enthusiasts, and especially anyone passionate about sea turtles or seeking a comprehensive overview of all things related to sea turtles. The book covers sea turtle life history, biology, anatomy, and their life cycle, as well as the various conservation efforts to protect both sea turtles and their habitats. It also highlights ways the general public can get involved. While the book presents a wealth of information, it's framed through the experiences of a sea turtle biologist, making the content easy to follow and engaging. As a fellow sea turtle biologist, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from this unique perspective and found myself relating to many of the author's experiences. Even as a sea turtle biologist, I discovered new facts and perspectives that broadened my understanding 🐢

[Sean Santalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've seen my recent reading history, you'll have seen that I've been on a trend of animal-focused books - on beavers, otters, coyotes, birds, etc. I went into this book thinking it'd be along the same lines, about sea turtles - and was a little caught off guard when it ended up being more autobiographical than it was about animals. But, once acclimated, and once I got a little more tolerant of the author's "voice", this ended up a really interesting read, with a lot to say about modern day conservation, science, being a woman in a male-dominated field and country, what it's like to do field work, the reality (positive and negative) of following your passion, and more - with some sea turtle biology mixed in. Fun read!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book about the experiences of Christine Figgener and her organizations to rescue sea turtles. As a passionate biologist, she opens up the difficult job in conservation work to her readers. I enjoyed learning many things about the different groups of turtles and her efforts to discover more about the secret lives of these gentle creatures.

[Joanne Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about the life of a female marine biologist, Christine Figgener, who has spent her career working with sea turtle conservation. Well written, easy to understand science. Good descriptions of her life as a scientist with pictures. Great thoughts on activism and science. Would recommend this book to others and will continue to follow on social media.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully poignant and inspirational. The author's love for sea turtles transformed this book into an impactful call-to-action for each reader, to work toward a better future for the planet, for sea turtles, and for humankind. I learned so much more about one of my favorite animals and ocean conservation. I connected with so much of the author's experiences and thoughts, throughout the book, finishing the book with feeling empowered as a woman in science.

[Emma Sauls · Rating 5 out of 5]

spectacular, give me 14 more books like this right now

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are intrigued by sea turtles, you will love this book. I wish she had added a list of legitimate conservation groups with contact information.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that writes about turtle conservation in an engaging manner. Save the turtles!!!

[Juliet Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interessant geschrieben, man lernt sehr sehr viel, tolle Bilder und Grafiken

[kendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great and comprehensive book about sea turtle conservation, biology, and research. If you have wondered what it would be like to be a sea turtle biologist, pick up this book! You’ll learn about the reality of field work and research, the challenges of working in nonprofit conservation, and important insights into the field as a whole.

The author does a wonderful job diving into the issues of working in environmental conservation, especially highlighting the issue of parachute science and people from the Global North trying to do what they think is best without understanding the area, culture, or history. This conservation work is harmful and needs to end. We critically need sustainable conservation.

Thank you GreyStone books for sending me an ARC!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will make you feel both amazement and sadness. Very interesting facts about sea turtles, while also exploring the struggles they face due to illegal turtle trade and harvesting, rising water temperatures, and water pollution including the overabundance of fertilizers and plastics in our world's waters. And a strong testament to following your dreams when everyone tells you they are not possible.

[Hardy Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s rare that I find a book which so beautifully weaves biology, biography, and activism. Figgener does an amazing job of transporting you to the beaches of Costa Rica; you practically feel the sand and salt while she shared tales of hard work and hard-won successes. She touches on the challenges of being a transplant, a female, and a scientist while messaging hope. One of the best conservation biographies I’ve read in a while.

[Cindy Berchtold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for everyone on our planet! It has inspired me to be more aware of my plastic use and other things I can do to help combat climate change and help save our oceans and the animals in it.

[Yi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful memoir on the author's journey from meeting the first sea turtle to eventually educating others and volunteers on their behaviors and habitat. This reignited my dream for ocean life conservation :)

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an easy nonfiction read. There is plenty of scientific and ecological information interspersed with personal stories and challenges. The translation sometimes feels a little unnatural but that doesn’t take away from the narrative.

[mymagicalbookwonderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rezension

Buchname: Meine Reise mit den Meeresschildkröten: Wie ich als Meeresbiologin für unsere Ozeane kämpfe | „Ein wunderbares Buch für alle, die sich für die Welt um uns herum interessieren.“ Jane Goodall
Autor: Christine Figgener
Seiten: 272 (Print)
Fromat: als Print, Hörbuch und Ebook erhältlich
Verlag: ‎ ‎ Malik; 2. Edition (30. März 2023)
Sterne: 5

Cover:
Das Cover ist richtig schön gestaltet worden. Der Buchtitel steht in hellen bzw weißfarbenen Buchstaben im mittleren Bereich. Im oberen Bereich sieht man die Autorin am Strand und im unteren Bereich kann man Meeresschildkröten erkennen. .. Auf dem ersten Blick ist das schon mal sehr ansprechend.

Klappentext: (aus Amazon übernommen)

»Ein wunderbares Buch, das Wissenschaftler:innen, Naturschützer:innen und alle ansprechen wird, die sich für die Welt um uns herum interessieren.« Jane Goodall, DBE, Gründerin des Jane Goodall Instituts und UN-Botschafterin des Friedens
Elegant gleiten sie durchs Wasser, legen Tausende Kilometer zurück und finden selbst Jahre später noch den Weg an die Strände ihrer Geburt. Meeresschildkröten sind geheimnisvolle Urzeitwesen, und Christine Figgener macht sich seit Langem für ihre Erforschung und ihren Schutz stark. Jetzt nimmt uns die promovierte Meeresbiologin mit auf eine Reise durch das Leben dieser faszinierenden Tiere. Vom Nest folgen wir den Babys in die Weiten der Ozeane, besuchen ihre Kinderstuben und begleiten sie auf ihrer gefährlichen Reise zum Erwachsensein.
Von einer, die auszog, die Schildkröten zu retten
Allen Bedrohungen zum Trotz wird jedes Jahr eine neue Generation ausgebrütet, der Christine Figgener zum Schlupf verhilft. Eindrucksvoll erzählt sie von der Suche nach nistenden Weibchen an nächtlichen Karibikstränden, von schwankenden Bootsfahrten auf dem Pazifik und von den Gefahren, denen sowohl Schildkröten als auch Schildkrötenschützer:innen ausgesetzt sind. Vor allem aber steckt sie an mit ihrer Begeisterung und Leidenschaft, denn es braucht uns alle, um die Schildkröten und ihren Lebensraum zu retten.
»Nur jemand, der so leidenschaftlich und engagiert ist wie die Autorin, kann durchhalten, obwohl ihr Herz jedes Mal bricht, wenn sie eine der von ihr studierten Meeresschildkröten verliert.« Jane Goodall, DBE, Gründerin des Jane Goodall Instituts und UN-Botschafterin des Friedens
Die Autorin ist ausgezeichnet als »TIME’s Next Generation Leader«.
Mit Illustrationen und Fotos
„Dieses Buch ist ein Geschenk für alle, die Spaß daran haben, von einer außergewöhnlich klugen und schlagfertigen Wissenschaftlerin zu lernen, die ihrer Leidenschaft gefolgt ist und unsere Welt ein kleines Stückchen besser macht." Hannes Jaenicke

Schreibstil:
Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist total flüssig, liest sich super und ist sehr leicht verständlich.


Meinung:

!!!! Achtung !!! Könnte Spoiler erhalten!!!

Mir hat „ Meine Reise mit den Meeresschildkröten“ von Christine Figgener unglaublich gut gefallen. Da ich auch zwei Schildkröten daheim habe, ist mir der Schutz und die Rettung der Schildkröten unglaublich wichtig. Das Buch selber fande ich so mega informativ uns spannend. Es war einfach nur sehr schön geschrieben. Und die Illustrationen haben mir auch richtig gut gefallen. Beim Lesen habe ich richtig gemerkt, wie der Autorin die Schildkröten am Herzen liegen. Mit wie viel Leidenschaft und Engagement sie für die Schildkröten kämpft beeindruckt mich schon sehr. Und ich kann sie so gut verstehen.. Ich für meinen Teil trage auch dazu bei, dass ich die Meeresschildkröten rette, indem ich einfach meinen Müll richtig entsorge. Ich bin absolut begeistert von „ Meine Reise mit den Meeresschildkröten“. Deshalb bekommt das Buch von mir auch sehr verdiente 5 Sterne und eine klare Leseempfehlung.


Fazit:

Tolles Buch über Meeresschildkröten. Man merkt beim Lesen richtig die Leidenschaft der Autorin für die faszinierenden Tiere. Klare Empfehlung.

[Paul Sutter]

As one who reads and reviews hundreds of books each year, one does not always show the same enthusiasm when opening a new book to read. When I picked up MY LIFE WITH SEA TURTLES, as my next book to review, I likely had a cynical attitude that it would be a book that would be informative but not stand out from the crowd. How I must apologize to Christine Figgener, because it turned out to be one of the most entertaining and informative books I read during the past few months.
Almost from the very first pages, I was hooked and totally captivated by the story as laid out by the author, and marveled at her dedication and caring for sea turtles. She grew up with a love of coastal waters and the marine world, and it could only intensify as she got older, prompting her to earn a PhD in marine biology. Her passion for turtles intensified while volunteering for four months in Costa Rica. It was more then eye-opening, living in the most basic of conditions but her goal was to be part of nighttime beach patrols to assist the female turtles as they came ashore to deposit their eggs in special nests that they created.
It is absolutely breath-taking to read about what the turtles endured, slowly coming from the waters and seeking out the right spot to dig the holes to make sure the eggs were secure and safe. It was her dedication in making sure the eggs were guarded, so new generations of turtles could be born and keep the species going. Now this is her work full-time, and loving every second of it.
It has not been an easy task saving turtles because in many countries, turtle meat has been a delicacy, and turtle soup is consumed with a passion. As well, the eggs of the turtles are eaten bu humans, plus other predators of the region, make it a habit of feasting on them as well. This is why many species of turtles that once flourished have become extinct, making it all the more important to preserve turtles today and for the future.
Christine writes with love and passion, and her style shows emotion without question. She says in the book, “These animals and their protection are the reasons I get out of bed in the morning and why I can never give up. Protecting sea turtles is what I was put on this earth to do. They are my purpose and my destiny. They are what I live for.”
Figgener relates facts and figures about the various species, how some grow well over six feet long, and some can weigh over half a ton. She also talks of protecting them from garbage thrown into the waters that threaten them, like fishing nets, garbage bags and more trash from callous humans. A video she made of a straw being pulled from the nose of a turtle went viral, which helped with the urgency to ban straws worldwide.
The book is humbling and may make you angry as well, at man’s inhumanity to such impressive creatures in this world. This book is a must-read for people of all ages, to teach us respect and love for such awe-inspiring animals.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christine Figgener was always interested in the ocean and wanted to be a scientist and work with animals. She grew up in an industrial town in Germany but worked her way into an internship with a dolphinarium and then went to college to study biology. While working on her Master's degree she ended up working in Costa Rica where she still lives today working with sea turtle conservation. The work of a field scientist is HARD - dirty, hot, odd hours, low pay, etc. But Figgener feels it's all worth it to get to help these amazing creatures. The book is pretty scientific but she intersperses scientific information about sea turtles with her personal stories of working with these animals. I was amazed at the level of dedication and work she and her team does to both study sea turtles and keep them from extinction. I've been lucky enough to see some green sea turtles in person when snorkeling in Hawaii and it was amazing. You'll learn a LOT about sea turtles and the amazing work Figgener and her organization are doing to keep them around.

Some quotes I liked:

"Leatherbacks are among the few animals that help keep jellyfish populations in check. The latter are multiplying exponentially as our oceans are increasingly being polluted by excess use of fertilizers in agriculture, and jellyfish have become a real nuisance in tourist areas and for fisheries. The dietary preferences of leatherbacks are a natural way to control them." (p. 82-83)

"Green turtles with their vegetarian diet play an important role in maintaining seagrass meadows. They are highly selective grazers, and as they feed, they create natural disturbances just as storm waves do. These disturbances ensure continuous regrowth of the seagrass while preventing some of the faster-growing species from taking over. The biochemical composition of younger leaves of seagrass make them easier to digest...Through selective grazing, green turtles ensure seagrass meadows are full of young leaves that are investing more of their available energy in nitrogen and carbohydrates and less in structural material. This benefits not only the green turtles but also a host of other marine herbivores, large and small." (p. 87) [This is very similar to rotational grazing with cattle that is done in regenerative farming and creates more grass and more nutritional grass for the cattle or herbivores grazing]

[_moonlight.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schon immer fand ich Schildkröten toll, angefangen mit den Landschildkröten, aufgehört mit den Meeresschildkröten. Als ich also von Christine Figgener das Buch Meine Reise mit den Meeresschildkröten entdeckt habe, wusste ich, dies muss ich lesen. Ich hatte das Glück, dies über Netgalley als Rezensionsexemplar zu bekommen.

In diesem Buch lernen wir den Lebensweg der Schildkröte kennen, aber auch den beruflichen Wertegang der Biologin Christine Figgener und wie dieser mit den wundervollen Tieren verbunden ist.
Das Buch liest man nicht einfach mal so weg, denn es ist schon sehr komplex geschrieben, doch dabei habe ich viel Neues über die Tiere gelernt. Auch der Umwelt- und Tierschutz spielt hier natürlich eine wichtige Rolle und zeigt einem auf, was alles noch getan werden sollte und auch welchen Gefahren die Tierschützer ausgesetzt sind. Zu Hause in meiner Bubble bekommt man so etwas eher selten mit.

Am Anfang hatte ich etwas Probleme reinzukommen, da ich das Gefühl hatte, als wenn die Autorin bei den ersten paar Kapitel in der Zeit ziemlich geswitcht ist (also erst der Anfang der, dann jetzige Karriere, dann wieder der Anfang des Studiums), aber bald kam da eine Reihenfolge rein.

Ich denke, für jeden der Meeresschildkröten mag und sich für Umweltschutz interessiert, ist dieses Buch perfekt und ich kann es demjenigen empfehlen.

[Katsbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meine Reise mit den Meeresschildkröten von Christine Figgener ist ein Buch, welches sich dem Leben der Meeresschildkröten widmet.
 
Die Autorin ist Meeresbiologin und man bekommt einen spannenden Einblick in ihre Arbeit und auch die Herausforderungen. Man merkt auf jeden Fall, dass die Autorin vom Fach ist, und an einigen Stellen hat sich das Buch wie ein Lexikon angefühlt. Da hätte ich mir manchmal eine etwas persönlichere Note gewünscht, aber gleichzeitig rückt solch eine Erzählweise natürlich die Meeresschildkröten in den Vordergrund. Oft werden Beobachtungen geschildert und denen konnte ich gut folgen.
 
Ich mochte sehr, wie man mit jedem Kapitel etwas mehr vom Lebenszyklus einer Meeresschildkröte gesehen hat. Einige Fakten wusste ich schon im Vorhinein, aber ich habe auch neue Dinge gelernt. Wie zum Beispiel, dass Schildkröten für Wilderer interessant sind, was im totalen Gegensatz zu ihrer Rolle in verschiedenen Kulturen und Mythen steht.
 
Ich finde das Thema Naturschutz unglaublich wichtig und genau durch solch ein Buch wird es einem nochmal zusätzlich bewusst gemacht. Ich kann Meine Reise mit den Meeresschildkröten sehr empfehlen. 4 Sterne.
 
(Vielen Dank an den Verlag und NetGalley für das Rezensionsexemplar.)

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jane Goodall blurbs a book about ecology, readers should take note—and Figgener’s new book indeed lives up to Goodall’s praise. The book announces itself as an odyssey of sorts, claiming to be a “quest to protect one of the most ancient animals on earth, a journey that begins with a map of the sea turtles’ mating grounds before embarking on a journey from the nest “into the world.” Figgener does more than talk about sea turtles’ life cycles, habits, and vulnerabilities, though. She incorporates her own reason for studying them and the real faces of other scientists who listen to turtles in a way humanize a field that can seem unavailable to people whose pathways to the STEM field have been historically limited based on gender, race, class, ethnicity, and other barriers. Accessible enough to inspire everyday activists and animal lovers yet augmented with scientific information, the book will surely inspire people to consider what small actions they can take to protect sea turtles—and will undoubtedly inspire more than a few people to follow Figgener’s lead in becoming sea turtle biologists.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was way better than expected. I not only learned a lot about sea turtles and biodiversity efforts. But Figgener also mentioned other topics when necessary. Her intersectionality included colonialism, consumption, feminism, climate justice and classism. I really appreciated her effort in including these topics and realizing you can't see sea turtles alone but always have to look at other topics as well. Even if she mentioned consumption of animal products, especially fish, I would have loved for her to be even more confident in talking about it. We can't save the turtles and keep eating fish, but also other meat, milk, cheese and eggs. I would have also loved to see more about flagship species and how they can be misleading in biodiversity efforts. I still really enjoyed the book, a nice mixture of interesting anectodes, sea turtle facts and information on the organization of sea turtle protection efforts :)
Really recommend, even if you don't have a particular interest in sea turtles!

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet and short memoir focused on Figgener's work as a marine biologist studying sea turtles the book moves back and forth fluidly between her work connections and observations and teaching readers about specific turtles from their anatomy to their breeding habits and the ecology they live in and why they must be protected.

It's basic in a good way. Not too academic but certainly plenty to learn as well as using a casual voice that is encouraging environmentalism by getting readers to understand the intricacies of habitat by learning about seat turtles themselves with the ups and downs of research like tagging animals.

"When temperatures are higher, more females develop; when they are lower, more males. The phrase "hot chicks, cool dudes" is a good way to remember this. Temperature-dependent sex determination, or TSD, is known from only a few species of reptiles and fish."

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, as a wildlife biologist undergrad myself, I tried to view this book in terms of what I have learned. And the general risks, rewards, and threats of sea turtles reminds me much of my own passion with raptors. Who knows, maybe I will find myself on the coastline one day helping turtles. I hope to help our ecosystems no matter what direction that turns out to be. Breaking my leg during my first wildlife position has made me aware of the many other directions wildlife protection can go outside of the field. I’m glad this book exists for others in the world who may not be as directly tied to wildlife or their precarious existences. I think the world of wildlife is its prime time for wildlife education to communities around the globe.