Intern Voice: Tracking turtles the new-fashioned way
Written by Tyler Mcmillin, six month intern
Last week the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) captured a
green sea turtle to fit it with a GPS tracker. We were lucky enough to be in
town for the release of the turtle back to sea, getting a rare opportunity to
see a green female in broad daylight. The group had front row seats to the
release and, despite a slow start, it was amazing to get to watch her return to
sea. The turtle was carried in a large wooden box by members of the STC and
GVI.
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The GPS was fixed onto the carapace and had to dry for
several hours before the release. When the turtle surfaces for air, the GPS
signal will be sent to the STC, giving them a look into the life of the turtle.
The turtle can also be tracked online, allowing the public to have access to
the data. Using the GPS, we will be able to examine the sea turtles habits, and
just how much the location changes with the seasons. This event was also a
great way to support the knowledge of the community on sea turtles. It will be
interesting to see how far this turtle travels!
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