Monday, July 22, 2013

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.



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!


Share/Save/Bookmark

0 comments: