WATAMU, Kenya (AP) – A turtle drags itself along a white sandy beach, splashes through the gentle warm Indian Ocean and then vanishes with a plop, becoming one of 13,750 turtle success stories on a stretch of Kenyan coastline facing pressure from developers.
Kenya is striving to strike a balance between developing its 330 miles (530 kilometers) of coastline for a billion-dollar tourism industry that employs a half-million people and preserving the environment that attracts those visitors. As the East African nation does so, some experts say that turtles are key, because they are so picky when it comes to laying eggs that if the right environment is maintained for them, then things are going well.
Kenya’s record is mixed in protecting endangered turtles, but is going pretty well, a top wildlife official says.
One of several sore spots for conservationists and locals – and not least of all, the turtles – is a hotel of former Renault F1 tycoon Flavio Briatore, 25 kilometers (16 miles) north of here.
The dispute centers around Briatore’s Billionaire Resort on Malindi beach and its 100-meter concrete seawall to protect the property and guests from the elements.