What are charismatic species and why do they matter for conservation?
<p>When I first began my research on sea turtle conservation and tourism in Hawai‘i several years ago, I remember an encounter with a sea turtle. I was swimming a hundred yards or so off the beach, trying to get some wide-angle landscape photos of my research site.</p>
<p>Then I felt something brush up against my leg.</p>
<p>I was swimming in a place where tiger sharks were known to patrol, so it’s fair to say I freaked out for a brief moment.</p>
<p>But when I looked down, I was relieved to see a pizza-sized orb hovering near my knee:</p>
<p>I ducked underwater and snapped this photo:</p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/the-connection-people-looking-at-animals-looking-at-people-2eb306515854"><strong>Click Here</strong></a></p>