TORTI: Eggsploring Solutions for the Turtle Extinction Crisis

Across the world's oceans and islands, turtles and tortoises have endured for millions of years. They survived the rise and fall of dinosaurs, shifting continents, and dramatic changes to our planet. Yet today, many of these ancient species face an uncertain future due to human impacts; habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, and reproductive failure are pushing populations towards decline, creating an extinction crisis that demands urgent action.

TORTI: Eggsploring Solutions for the Turtle Extinction Crisis follows the journey of Seychellois PhD researcher Alessia Lavigne as she searches for answers to one of conservation's most challenging condendrums: why are turtle and tortoise eggs failing to hatch?

Together with Seychelles-based cinematographer Stefano Colombo, the documentary traces Alessia's path from her early days working in turtle conservation in the Seychelles to becoming a PhD student at the University of Sheffield focused on identifying the drivers of reproductive failure in threatened turtles and tortoises. At the heart of the story is a groundbreaking international scientific collaboration that is set to change how we understand early reproductive failure in these reptiles and consequently their global conservation.

Working alongside Dr Nicola Hemmings, Alessia developed and tested an innovative new method for assessing egg fertilisation in turtles and tortoises. This pioneering approach offers conservationists a powerful new tool to better understand reproductive failure and identify solutions that could help safeguard vulnerable populations around the world.

More than a documentary about science, TORTI is a story about perseverance, hope and the people working tirelessly to reverse biodiversity loss. It highlights how curiosity, innovation, and collaboration can generate real-world conservation answers and solutions, while inspiring the next generation of researchers, conservationists, and environmental leaders.

Through stunning cinematography, intimate storytelling, and cutting-edge science, TORTI invites audiences into a race against time - one that seeks not only to understand why turtles and tortoises are disappearing, but to help ensure that future generations will continue to share the planet with these extraordinary animals.