# @natgeosociety on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd14tV6CTZp
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70936286-natgeosociety-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/c05e67c27e.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-28T19:00:49.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** National Geographic Society (@natgeosociety) — https://gondola.cc/natgeosociety

## Caption

"My journey as a National Geographic Explorer began by following one leatherback sea turtle on a map. In many ways, I’ve been following turtles ever since." — #NatGeoExplorer callieveelenturf

"Sea turtles have become my greatest teachers and ambassadors for the protection of marine ecosystems. They’ve led me across oceans and borders, but most importantly, into communities whose knowledge, relationships with Nature, and commitment to protecting the places they call home have shaped the conservationist I am today.

What started as a question about where turtles go and why eventually became a much bigger question for me: How do we change the systems that determine Nature’s future? That journey led me to the Rights of Nature, the idea that Nature has intrinsic value, inherent rights, and deserves a direct voice in decision-making. My research, conducted with the local communities of the Pearl Islands, The Leatherback Project team, the Ministry of the Environment of Panama, the National Air and Navy Service of Panama, and Fundacion Tortugas del Mar, led to the designation of the first protected area of Panama, the Saboga Wildlife Refuge, that was created explicitly to uphold the rights of marine species and ecosystems to survive and thrive. 

I became an Explorer because of one turtle that swam east when almost all the others swam south. I could never have imagined where she would lead me." 🐢

## Stats

- **Views:** 26,474
- **Likes:** 1,986
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 36

## Tags

natgeoexplorer

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