Crazy Turtle Woman

'Crazy Turtle Woman' transforms graveyard into maternity ward. For 100 million years, the creatures have traveled the world's oceans, outliving the dinosaurs. Every year, female leatherbacks make their way onto the beach, laying their eggs deep in the sand. For years, Baptiste and her group patrolled the beaches every night of turtle nesting season. She often walked alone until sunrise. Locals mocked her efforts, calling her the "Turtle Police" or "Crazy Turtle Woman," yet her dedication to the unpaid work was fierce; when it conflicted with her day job, she quit and found a new job. She and her group also worked hard to convince the villagers that using the turtles for eco-tourism could create a more sustainable income. "I wanted to show that a turtle is [worth] so much more to us alive than dead," Baptiste said.