Hawksbill turtle tracking results from Middle East
01/02/2011 14:01:01
Hawksbill turtle with satellite tracking device. Credit WWF/EWS
Project records nearly 6,500 points of location data showcasing turtles' regional migration patterns
January 2011: After six months of tracking twenty turtles across Iran, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Emirates Wildlife Society - WWF (EWF-WWF) has compiled its first report on the Marine Turtle Conservation Project, a three year initiative which seeks to track over seventy-five Hawksbill turtles' migration patterns, in partnership with the Marine Research Foundation (MRF).
80% decline in Hawksbill population
The global population of Hawksbill turtles has decline by 80% in the last two decades. "Several Hawksbill turtles, a few equipped with satellite tracking devices, grace UAE and GCC waters. EWS-WWF is tracking their movements to help inform public policy to protect the species locally and regionally," explained Lisa Perry, EWS-WWF Director of Programs.
20 kilometres per day
Scientists have learned that these sea turtles can navigate 20km per day for nearly 2 months without stopping to arrive at foraging grounds 1000 kilometres away. Several of the turtles have travelled more than 5,000 kilometres since first being fitted with the satellite-tracking device. The technology is so precise scientists can even determine if the turtles are remaining in an area to nest and if so estimate how many times turtles have nested.
"Our sea turtles are international travellers," remarked Lisa Perry EWS-WWF Director of Programs. "From this satellite data, we can see that some turtles travel from Iran to Saudi Arabia, crossing the international boarders of the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. The migration data is important for formulating region-wide conservation policy to protect turtle migration routes and foraging grounds," Perry continued.
Watch the turtles' movements online
The report outlines the results provided by the satellite mapping software which recorded nearly 6,500 locations helping scientist determine the turtles' exact movements and locations across the region. "Anyone can track these turtles through the project website and determine their location today at gulfturtles.com" said Perry.
"In the next few months EWS-WWF will be looking to build on the data received and expand the pool of turtles tracked. "As more location data is gathered over time from more turtles, we will be in a better position to inform the relevant authorities in each country of the habitat use patterns, both spatially and temporally, for hawksbill turtles in the region", remarked Dr. Nicolas Pilcher, Executive Director of the Marine Research Foundation, and the projects Technical Advisor to EWS-WWF.
Sponsor a turtle
As the project is in its initial phase, funding and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Interested organisations can sponsor a turtle by providing its tagging cost, thus gaining the right to name it, as well as track its movement and migration pattern online. Also, symbolic adoption packs are available to individuals that are looking for a way to contribute to the project. These can be purchased from Al Boom Diving Centers, The Shelter in Dubai, Fairmont Hotel - Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry - 8th floor.
Regional highlights of the findings contained in the reseach report are as follows:
UAE The UAE turtles have been the most ‘domestic' of the project so far. They have not left UAE waters, and have taken up residence not far from their original nesting site. It is clear from the movements that the waters off the coast of Abu Dhabi include critical habitat for hawksbills, but similarly is the region off the mainland coast of Ajman and Sharjah, where Ms. EMEG and the turtle from Oman both reside | oman One of the turtles migrated into the Gulf, a move which was previously unknown for this species. Being substantially larger than their inner-Gulf cousins, it was questionable whether they would enter and potentially interact with inner-Gulf hawksbills. |
qatar Two of Qatar's turtles moved around substantially; one resides off the north coast of Bahrain, and the other down in the extreme southwest corner of the Gulf. Two others have remained closer to home, off the north coast and the east coast respectively. | iran These turtles have the most ‘international' range, having taken up residence off Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE. It is likely they have selected a small reef or an area covering several coral reefs or hard substrate as foraging grounds, to which they remain quite faithful. |
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