SEA TURTLE TRACKING FUND

by Clearwater Marine Aquarium


Stefanie Calloway-Connor

Hi! My name is Stefanie and I spend all my summers on Anna Maria Island just south of Tampa. I love to watch the many wildlife species especially manatee, dolphin and sea turtles- To watch how free they are and how beautifully they all coexist in the world today- it reminds me of the human need to be able to coexist, as God wanted us all to do as well. 

I remember walking along the beach at night with my husband and seeing some young teenagers digging up a sea turtle nest- I was outraged. We explained to them how the turtles were protected and how they are endangered. They apologized and tried to cover the hole back -but it was more than likely too late. Hopefully they learned a lesson- I'm hoping to help educate more people of how important the conservation of such species is. Getting the word out is so important. So many people don't understand and don't respect the sanctity of wildlife. 

It is all of our responsibility to respect these mammals, birds, turtles, reptiles, fish-we can all learn from them.


Xeno will be our third sea turtle to be fitted with a satellite tracking tag. Kreacher was our second sea turtle released with a sat tag and Ozzy was our first in September of 2015. 

Satellite tracking is beneficial for research purposes including:

  • Where did the sea turtle come from
  • Where is she going
  • Where her foraging grounds are located
  • What her migration patterns are

We need your help so that we can continue our efforts in research and rehabilitation projects on endangered species. It costs up to $10,000 for a satellite tag, as well as up to $300 per day for rehabbing a sea turtle. When you donate to the Sea Turtle Tracking Fund, you are helping us collect invaluable information on sea turtle behavior. Your generous contribution also supports our ongoing sea turtle rescue, rehab and release programs.

According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, well over 90% of a sea turtle’s life is spent in the water. It is far more difficult to do research on a turtle’s life in the water versus on land, which is why most research has been done on nesting sea turtles. Satellite trackers can help us do the research and gain more knowledge about the true life of a sea turtle. This will be able to help our conservation efforts and make sure that this species is protected for generations to come.

Xeno's Bio
Xeno is a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle that was rescued 15 miles offshore. She was taken in on September 17th during our Harry Potter naming theme, hence the name, Xeno. 

Watch a video of Xeno in rehab here.
 

We are proud to partner with Sea Turtle Conservancy for this project.