The Greggy Girl ® Turtle

 

The Greggy Girl® Turtle Project supports turtle conservation by sponsoring the tracking of a female loggerhead turtle in Bonnaire, Netherland Antilles, appropriatley named, Greggy Girl®. The effort to track and monitor Greggy Girl's migratory patterns allow scientists to more effectively protect turtle habitats and ensure that these gentle creatures will survive and thrive throughout the world for future generations to love. You can track and watch the Greggy Girl® Turtle at:

 

                  CLICK HERE TO TRACK THE GREGGY GIRL® TURTLE

 

               

 

 

Greggy Girl® is the second turtle to be tracked via satellite in the 2008 Bonaire turtle nesting season. Found while nesting on Klein Bonaire on August 2, 2008, she’s the fifteenth turtle to be outfitted with a transmitter since the turtle tracking program began in 2003.

With Greggy Girl®, Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) achieved the goal of deploying two transmitters on turtles in 2008. Based on the pattern of turtle nesting activity observed on Klein Bonaire during the last few weeks, STCB staff predicted the possible return of a loggerhead turtle to the beach on Friday, August 1, 2008. A field team consisting of STCB's staff and volunteers set out at night to monitor the beach on Klein Bonaire for nesting activity.

Around 9:00 p.m. a large loggerhead was found up on a sand dune and busy digging a hole for placing her nest, and she soon began laying approximately 100 eggs. An hour later, after she covered her nesting area extensively with sand, the approximately 120 kg animal was intercepted by the team on her way toward the sea and a transmitter applied to the top of her carapace. At 12:26 am the loggerhead turtle was released and she quickly departed into the sea.

The female loggerhead has a shell length of 3.17 ft. and is estimated to weigh about 264 lbs. Adult loggerhead turtles come to Bonaire to breed from May through July. The turtle is expected to remain in the area and lay at least one more nest before departing to her home feeding grounds.

It is imperative that we focus our efforts on protecting the reefs and saving endangered animals, like the loggerhead turtles, for future generations. By participating in this effort to track and monitor Greggy Girl's migratory patterns, we can more effectively protect turtle habitats and ensure that these gentle creatures will survive and thrive throughout the world."

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire exists to ensure the protection and recovery of Bonaire’s sea turtle populations throughout their range. Founded in 1992, the STCB is a Bonaire-based, non-governmental and non-profit organization, part of the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network.(Source: STCB)

About Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire:

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) exists to ensure the protection and recovery of Bonaire's sea turtle populations throughout their range. Founderd in 1992,the STCB is a Bonaire-based, non-governmental and non-profit organization, part of the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network. To learn more about the STCB and what you can do to support this organization, email:  stcb@bonaireturtles.org

Turtle Trivia:

The cute turtle "Squirt" on the Disney blockbuster "Finding Nemo" was a Loggerhead turtle just like the Greggy Girl;® turtle.

Turtles have been on the earth for more than 200 million years. They evolved before mammals, birds, crocodiles, snakes, and even lizards.

About Loggerheads:

Loggerhead turtles are classified as endangered. They are highly migratory and spend most of their lives out in the open ocean where they are often caught in fishing nets and lines.

Although hunting is less of an issue than for other turtle species, both meat and eggs are highly prized by traditional communities in the Caribbean and Antilles and loggerhead turtle shells are used to make paddle boats in Honduras.

Loggerhead turtles are also found in the Mediterranean. They nest on beaches in Greece, Turkey, Israel, Tunisia and Libya. Here they are at risk from coastal development and tourism that disrupts nesting sites.

NOW YOU CAN JOIN OUR EFFORTS AND LOG ONTO WWW.MYSPACE.COM/GREGGYGIRLTURTLE,

CHECK OUT THE CELEBRITIES, CHILDREN, ADULTS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TRACKING THE GREGGY GIRL  TURTLE. AT MY SPACE, YOU CAN REQUEST TO BE A FRIEND, READ OUR TURTLE BLOG,AND INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND ORGANZIATIONS THAT LOVE MARINE LIFE AS MUCH AS OUR TEAM! TODAY IS THE DAY TO HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN!