‘I moved across the world to save manta rays’

Nature lover Sarah Lewis,

36, quit her life in the UK to devote herself to saving rare sea creatures. She says, “Growing up, I spent weekends at the beach with my parents. I loved being in nature, so when I graduated, I was thrilled to get an internship at the

RIGHT ALIGNED Zoological Society of London,

CAPTION a conservation charity. I learned about manta rays and got to swim with them. They’re so intelligent and curious – they’re a wild animal, but they’ll swim right up to you. I soon became obsessed and began learning about their plight in Indonesia. It has one of the largest fishing industries and manta rays often get caught in nets or are captured for their medicinal value, as their gill plates are used in Chinese medicine. I was so inspired, I contacted several charitable organisations to get funding to move out to Bali to set up a conservation project. I was living with my parents in Surrey at the time, and they were so supportive. I knew I was going to have to say goodbye to friends and family, but my gut was telling me to go. Amazingly,

I raised £10k to start my research project and, in

December 2010,

I booked a oneway ticket to

Bali, armed with nothing but a suitcase. I was introduced to a friend who was working in Bali and already had a villa, and he allowed me to stay for three months so I could get settled. I spent my first two years building relationships and contacts – to save money I’d hitch lifts on tourist boats to go out to see the manta rays in the wild. I would photograph and track each individual manta ray, to ensure they weren’t being caught, and now I work with remote coastal communities who fish manta rays, to educate them about the animals. I can’t see myself leaving to head back to the UK any time soon. When you find your passion, you have to go for it!”

● Visit thriveconservation.org and follow Sarah on instagram @sarah_lewis28