Just 0.4 square kilometers in area, Beidao Island in Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province, is home to the country's largest remaining natural nesting ground for green sea turtles.

For Huang Cheng, director of the Beidao residential community residents' committee, his connection to the island began long before he became a guardian himself. His father was among the island’s earliest protectors, spending decades patrolling the beaches, safeguarding turtle nests and discouraging illegal fishing. Inspired by his father, Huang arrived on the island in 1997 at just 15 years old, taking up the family’s mission of protecting sea turtles.

Every year, from May to October, nesting season keeps him especially busy. Armed with a red-light flashlight, he patrols the beach at night, identifies turtle tracks, marks nests and records observations while minimizing human disturbance.

But Huang knows that protecting sea turtles takes more than patrolling beaches. He visits neighboring islands to educate fishermen about wildlife protection laws, explain the importance and habits of sea turtles, and show them how to safely release turtles caught accidentally in fishing gear. He has also established an educational outreach site on Beidao Island to raise public awareness.

Years of dedication are paying off. More fishermen are now actively avoiding and rescuing sea turtles, while the number of nesting green sea turtles on the island continues to grow and hatchling survival rates improve.