'Father of the Sea Turtles' for Tusk Trust

Hipolito Lima’s upbringing as the son of a fisherman on São Tomé in Príncipe shaped his deep connection to the sea and its creatures. Witnessing the plight of endangered Sea Turtles as a young boy, he resolved to enact a pivotal change in the law to safeguard their future. Despite diverging from his family’s longstanding tradition of Sea Turtle fishing, Hipolito embarked on a journey to advocate for change in São Tomé.

Through years of tireless campaigning and gradual shifts in local attitudes, Hipolito successfully championed legislation that prohibited Sea Turtle fishing, paving the way for population recovery and ensuring protection for generations to come. His efforts earned him recognition as an award recipient at the 2020 Tusk Trust Awards.

Filmed on location in São Tomé, this documentary was a collaboration with Maia Films. Edited remotely by our Managing Director, Steve Milton, during lockdown, the film was completed in time for the annual Tusk awards ceremony, which transitioned to an online format due to the pandemic. The production posed unique challenges, with all footage recorded in Portuguese, necessitating full translation before the editing process began. Steve Milton skillfully crafted the narrative entirely from interview content, weaving together Hipolito’s inspiring story with precision and care.