Sea turtle migration-tracking & coastal habitat education programme: an educator's guide

Abstract

Sea turtles are large, air breathing reptiles that inhabit tropical and subtropical seas throughout the world. Their streamlined bodies and large flippers make them remarkably adapted to life at sea. However, sea turtles maintain close ties to land. Females must come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand; therefore, all sea turtles begin their lives as tiny hatchlings on land. Research on marine turtles has uncovered many facts about these ancient creatures. Most of this research has been focused on nesting females and hatchlings emerging from the nest, largely because they are the easiest to find and study. Thousands of sea turtles around the world have been tagged to help collect information about their growth rates, reproductive cycles and migration routes. After decades of studying sea turtles, much has been learned. However, many mysteries still remain. New technologies, such as satellite telemetry, are allowing scientists to monitor turtles throughout their range. The information gathered through satellite-tracking should answer many questions and help conservation groups like the Sea Turtle Survival League develop better strategies for protecting sea turtles.