Maggie Moore developed a lifelong passion for conservation after being awarded an Earthwatch Millennium Fellowship to research river otters in South America.  This experience led to Maggie developing a desire to protect other animals. 

She has since visited Costa Rica twice to work on a sea turtle conservation project. Her work included patrolling sections of a seven kilometre stretch of beach, heavily guarded to prevent poachers, gathering eggs as they were laid by Giant Leatherback turtles.

After returning, she gave talks to local conservation and community groups about the risk the species faces unless there is greater international support for its preservation.

"When walking on an unprotected beach I saw where the eggs had been predated, but at the bottom of a hole I spotted a tiny, crumpled shape.  It turned out to be a dehydrated baby Olive Ridley turtle. I carried it for 2 miles and waded out to sea, where it inflated like a balloon and swam away. It was a small act but I often think of that turtle.”