This holiday season, a team of scientists have been tracking the whereabouts of two leatherback turtles off the west coast of Africa. The turtles, Noelle and Darwinia, were fitted with satellite transmitters that enable precise tracking of the animals' movements.
Scientists hope to learn more about where these large sea turtles go while at sea. A clear understanding of the leatherbacks' oceanic movements will enable conservationists to better protect the species from various threats such as commercial fishing and oil extraction activities.
"Sea turtles are the ancient mariners of the world" said Dr Howard Rosenbaum, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Ocean Giants Program. "Understanding broader migration patterns and use of the nearshore habitat around their nesting beaches is a key component to their conservation."
So far, the two turtles have travelled a total distance of 1241 miles. You can follow Noelle and Darwinia's oceanic travels online at the Seaturtle.org website:
Photo © Dr. Matthew Witt / University of Exeter.
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Leatherback turtles can be found primarily in the open ocean. Scientists tracked a leatherback turtle that swam from Indonesia to the U.S. in an epic 20,000-kilometer (13,000-mile) journey over a period of 647 days as it searched for food. The turtles prefer deep water but are most often seen within sight of land. Feeding grounds have been determined to be closer to land, in waters barely offshore. Unusually for a reptile, leatherbacks can survive and actively swim in colder waters; individual turtles have been found in waters as cold as 4.5° Celsius.
The favoured breeding beaches of the leatherback turtle are mainland sites facing deep water and they seem to avoid those sites protected by coral reefs.
I’m currently staying at Petite Anse Hotel on the north coast of the Caribbean island of Grenada, West Indies because Levera Beach, 15 minutes away from here, is also a known Leatherback nesting site.
I have so far witnessed three layings, all on the same night! It was absolutely amazing. They average around 8000 nestings per season (around mid April to mid September), and some of the eggs are already hatching now.
Ocean Spirits is an organisation dedicated to helping these endangered beasts survive here too – so it is hugely worth the trip to come and witness this wonderful event.
Ocean Spirits : http://www.ocean-spirits.org
Petite Anse Hotel : http://www.petiteanse.com
Hope this helps these wonderful creatures’ survival!