Caretta caretta to Represent Anna Maria Island in Radio-Tracked Marathon
June 19th will mark the start of the 10th annual Tour de Turtles, which will include a three month sea turtle marathon. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring along with the Turtle Conservancy will release a female Caretta caretta equipped with a radio-tracking device into the Gulf of Mexico. Sea turtles from Costa Rica, Panama, Nevis and Florida will compete in this race to determine which turtle will make the longest journey in the allocated time. Volunteers will monitor a specific Anna Maria Island beach to capture a nesting female, which they will then tag and release. The last turtle released with the turtle watch in the 2015 Tour de Turtles swam almost 1000 miles, but unfortunately the radio-tracker was lost. Safety is of utmost priority in this operation and researchers are hoping to receive valuable data with the completion of a successful trip.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
Hawaii: Hard-core sea turtle research expected for this season
USA: Rough weather and mass nesting means more work for volunteers
USA: Caretta caretta finally released after previous near death experience
USA: Government decides sea turtle and whale protection measures unnecessary
Ecology
USA: Rising waters force local turtles out of their habitat and into danger
Health & Medical
USA: Living the good life after rescued from imprisonment
Did You Know…
Many common medications have a nephrotoxic effect on chelonians when used incorrectly, meaning that they harm the kidneys, causing possible fatal renal failure. Always consult a qualified reptile veterinarian before administering any medications to your animals.
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Photo from Islander File .
