TRACKING  THE  PAST  TO  MANAGE  THE  FUTURE    

Using  Technology  For  Marine  Turtle  Conservation  In  The  

Latin  America  And  The  Caribbean  Region  

 

Satellite  Telemetry  For  The  Conservation  Of  Threatened  Species    

All   sea   turtles   that   inhabit   the   oceans   of   the   planet   are   currently   endangered.     To   learn  more   about   their   behavior   and   threatens   they   face   scientists   from   WWF   LAC   have  deployed   small   satellite   transmitters   on   the   carapaces   of   marine   turtles   in   the   Eastern  Pacific  Ocean  (http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?project_id=791).    With  the  aid  of  these  satellite  tags,  marine  investigators  will  be  able  to  know  the  movements,  routes  and  sites   visited   by   the   turtles   during   their   long   journeys   and   understand   more   about   the  natural   history   of   these   ancient   and   charismatic   species.   Information   gathered   would  allow  researchers  to  strengthen  management  strategies  to  reduce  their  risk  of  extinction.    By   protecting   sea   turtles   in   the   Easters   Pacific   we   are   also   protecting   very   fragile   and  endangered  ecosystems  of  great  significance  for  the  marine  life  in  our  planet.    

Join  NOW  the  WWF  Latin  America  and  Caribbean  Sea  Turtle  Satellite  Tracking  Project    

We  need  you  to  save  the  Oceans  

 

When  you  adopt  a  turtle  equipped  with  a  satellite  transmitter,  you  are  helping  scientists  to  improve  their  knowledge  for  better  protect  them  in  our  beaches  and  the  ocean.    You  can  track   your   adopted   turtle   through   the   Internet   and   receive   updated   information   about  location,  distance  traveled,  depth  and  time  of  diving.    Moreover,  we  will  let  you  know  how  many   more   persons   are   following   your   turtle   and   their   nationalities,   as   well   as   other  interesting   and   cool   data   about   the   WWF   Latin   America   and   Caribbean   Sea   Turtle  Satellite   Tracking   Project   (https://worldwildlife.org/stories/tracking-­‐turtles-­‐by-­‐satellite-­‐for-­‐better-­‐conservation)    

 

FREQUENT  ASKED  QUESTIONS  

What  is  Satellite  Telemetry?    Satellite  Telemetry  is  a  very  sophisticated  technology  that  allows  the  monitoring  of  wild  life  individuals,  through  a  device,  which  transmits  signals  to  a  satellite  that  encodes  data  and  calculates  the  location  of  the  individual  being  tracked  on  land   or  water.     This   technology   is   costly   due   to   the   fact   that   each   transmitter   has   to   be  individually  programmed  and  set  up  for  each  project  and  you  are  required  to  pay  time  for  the  satellite.    

How  does  it  work?    Each  time  your  turtle  goes  to  the  surface  to  breath,   the  transmitter  placed   on   the   carapace   send   a   signal   through   the   antenna.     A   satellite   using   the   Argos  system,   operated   together   by   the  National   Oceanic   and   Atmospheric   Administration   for  the   government   of   the   United   States   (NOAA),   the   National   Aeronautics   and   Space  Administration   (NASA),   captures   this   signal   and   the   French   Space   Agency   (CNES),   whose  mission  is  the  monitoring  for  the  environmental  study  and  conservation.    

Why   use   Satellite   Telemetry   on   sea   turtles?     Sea   turtles   travel   vast   distances   in  between   the   feeding  areas  and  nesting  beaches.    Due   to   this  and  because   their   life   cycle  takes  place  90%  of   the   time   in   the   sea,   it   is  very  difficult   for   those  who  protect   them   to  track  and   find  out   their   location.     Satellite  Telemetry   is  a  useful   tool   to  know  where  sea  turtles  move,  where   they   head   and  where   they   stay   during   substantial   periods   of   time.    Knowing  these,  we  could  reduce  the  threats  in  key  sites  as  well  as  in  the  routes  followed  to  reach  them.    

Why  could  a  transmitter  stop  transmitting?    There  are  many  reasons  for  a  transmitter  to  stop  transmitting;  generally  it  is  due  to  changes  in  the  behavior  of  the  animal,  depletion  of  the  battery,  damage  of  the  antenna,  detachment  of  the  device  or  death  of  the  animal.      

Does   the transmitter  hurt   the   turtle?    No.   The   transmitter   is   a   small   device   specially  designed   to   cause   as   little   disturbance   to   the   swimming   sea   turtle   as   possible.     The   Sirtrack  transmitter   type  deployed  on  Gorgona´s   turtles   is   even  hydro-­‐dynamically   shaped   to   reduce  the  friction  of  water  making  the  turtle  get  used  to  it  easily  and  quickly.   Turtle  researchers  use  a  special  epoxy  to  attach  the  transmitter  that  does  not  cause  the  turtle  any  discomfort.    

What  are  my  benefits  when  adopting  a  satellite  turtle?    The  first  benefit  is  to  become  member  of  the  citizens  of  the  Planet  concerned  about  the  health  of  the  oceans  and  of  the  species  they  harbor.    Besides,  we  will  mail  to  you  a  Donation  Certificate  with  the  photo  of  the   adopted   turtle,   which   will   allow   you   to   obtain   tax   exemptions   from   your   annual  income  statement  for  the  amount  donated.    You  will  also  receive  permanent  information  on  your   adopted   turtle   and  other   the   research   and   conservation  projects   carried  out  by  WWF  in  the  Latin  America  and  the  Caribbean  region  during  a  year.    

How  can  I  adopt  a  satellite  turtle?    It  is  very  easy,  you  just  have  to  fill  in  the  form  below  and  send  it  altogether  with  the  proof  of  deposit  or  bank  transfer  to  the  following  address:    XXXXX  Cali  YYYYY  Bogotá  Or  you  can  also  scan  the  documents  and  send  them  via  e-­‐mail  to:  dfamorocho@wwf.org.co  In  a  couple  of  weeks  you  will  receive  your  certificate  and  the  password  to  log  into  the  Web  page  that  will  allow  you  to  start  traveling  the  ocean  following  your  turtle.    

!!!  Adopting    Satellite  Turtles  Is  Natural  Fun!!!      

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WWF  LAC  SPECIES  PROGRAM  FOR  LATIN  AMERICA  AND  THE  CARIBBEAN  

MARINE  TURLE  ADOPTION  FORM  

No.  

DATE  

NAME:                                  SURNAME:  

ID:    

ADDRESS:             E  MAIL:  

PHONE:             CEL  PHONE:  

I  WISH  TO  ADOPT:  

1  SATELLITE  TURTLE                                   $4.000.000  COP       USD  $2.200  

2  SATELLITE  TURTLES         $7.800.000  COP   USD  $4.333  

3  SATELLITE  TURTLES         $11.600.000  COP   USD  $6.444