Turning a turtle poaching conviction into a victory for conservation and development
Roving Reporters investigation into the case of a 54-year man sentenced to five years jail in 2011 for killing an endangered loggerhead turtle in the iSimangaliso World Heritage Site gave rise to the award-winning Makotikoti Arts Project (The MAP)
Now sixty years old, Makotikoti Zikhali has made a series of limited edition turtle sculptures for sale in aid of developing environmental education at KwaHlomula Senior Primary – the school he attended but abandoned at a young age to help his family fish for survival.
Click here to read more about Makotikoti and the epic journey that a Roving Reporters team embarked on in documenting South Africa’s first ever successful turtle poaching prosecution.
Click here to view the documentary, How one turtle change a life, as screened on SABC3’s 50/50 environmental show.
Roving Reporters in association with award-winning script writer, Janet van Eden and renowned environmental film-maker, Nick Chevallier, are currently looking for support in producing a feature documentary, Confessions of a Turtle Butcher. Click here to read our motivation to the KZN Film Commission.
Why now?
“In a world where everything is disposable and instant gratification is the ultimate aim, will remind viewers of those who have been forgotten by the consumerist West and the affluent parts of the African world. Our story takes someone who sees wild animals as a source of food, and provides him with opportunities to find a livelihood which can benefit the natural world rather than destroy it. If this film can show an alternative way of life for those in dire circumstances, and prove that there are creative ways to make money outside of poaching, it will be an immense victory and rallying cry for conservation of our natural world. Not only is this story relevant to South Africa, but will capture the imagination of viewers around the world.” – Janet van Eden
