Over the past 2 weeks a number of organizations including National Geographic, Conservation International, and several famous rock bands helped facilitate the “Great Turtle Race”: a fun effort to scientifically track the migration of 11 endangered leatherback sea turtles on their journey from Canada to the Caribbean. In addition to building awareness of the need for turtle conservation, one of the turtles provided the world with the 1st complete set of migration data ever recorded for a sea turtle.
Seen above, the sea turtle known as Wawa Bear traveled 4471 miles and had her entire route tracked successfully. At 1315 pounds, it should not be hard to imagine where the name “bear” comes from. Wawa Bear is, in fact, the largest sea turtle ever captured in Nova Scotian waters.
She traveled all the way from Canada to French Guiana, and has been a research participant for 15 years, which helped scientists to know where she typically nests. Upon reaching shore she laid 95 eggs, and has nested three more times since then.
Scientists followed the sea turtles using satellite tracking devices, that also allowed enthusiasts to watch the race online, while tracking the turtles’ paths, the approximate distance they traveled, how many deep dives they made, and how many times they entered cold water. You can still see the data and a fascinating replay of the race by clicking here. In the end it was a turtle sponsored by the band Pearl Jam that won the race (Wawa Bear came in 5th). Other well-known sponsors included the bands R.E.M and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as U.S. Olympic swimmers.
Leatherback Sea Turtles are an endangered species, and can grow up to 7 feet long and up to 2000 pounds in weight. They can dive up to 4200 feet, deeper than any other sea turtle species. The leatherback also has the longest migration of any sea turtle species.
For more information about leatherbacks and the Great Turtle Race, click here.
Photo Credit: © Jean-Yves Georges
Is this real….???
Obviously not. It’s most likely spray painted styrofoam.
I too, didn’t believe it was real. I looked up Leatherback Sea Turtles and yes, they do exist and yes, they are this large. However, in this case, you would think someone would have taken a video of it moving instead of just a plain picture. It’s not like you ever come across one of these in your entire life. Maybe they did and the leecher of this blog didn’t snag it when they stole the story. Well, the poor angle, flash, and color of this image makes me skeptical.
what is wrong with people? what has made them so cynical. what reasons do you have for thinking that turtle isn’t real. have you done research? oh, no, you haven’t, your just bitter.
The National Geographic site gives lots of information on this species. Very interesting. Publicising this fun and publicly engaging way to educate and interest people in the habits and survival of this species is a great way to help people be invested in their survival and future. Thanks for the update in this article.
Taking a picture of this turtle with flash was a very stupid thing to do. These turtles are light sensitive and people should not be talking pictures of them with flash… Yes Leatherbacks are this large. I personally saw them when I was doing turtle conservation projects in Costa Rica
Photoshopped.
Those people in the background aren’t real.
Who would wear a scarf with T-shirt?
definitely, you can also tell by the mismatching pixles and lack of shadows
shopped.
My gods, what a bunch of idiots. Every time I see a photo of some sort, there has to be at least one dumb-ass who posts the response ‘shopped’.
It’s a snapshot of a turtle. The people are not close to it, thus they make it look bigger…but when you’re trying to *help* animals you don’t generally ride on top of them simply to show scale for small minded ‘netizens who can’t tell a turtle from a turd.
Well done. My congratulations to entire team. waiting for your detail report regarding the project.
Great Job !!!
It’s a pity some people commentating spend more time bashing pictures as reading the article. I hope the turtle will be providing new data for a lot longer.
yep, they are real, come to the caribbean around this time and will see them nesting………..
real as crap
BULL..
are you insane? why does everything crazy half to be photoshops? you are the insane ones
Yes Indeed,
this is a real turtle, a leatherback, as a matter of fact this one right here migrated to the island I live on and laid eggs this past summer (2008). This same turtle has laid eggs here several times before. The people in the background are volunteers, standing about 5-6 feet away from the turtle. The photographer took the shot at about 1 foot above the sand. This turtle is over 6 feet long, no kidding, I got up at 1am to go out and look at it, without flashlights, without camera flashes. It’s easy to make mindless comments when you live in the city and have never seen large ocean turtles. A few loggerheads have been here the last 2 weeks, they are smaller, about 3 feet long, but they still freakout tourist idiots (much like some posters here..) when they pop up in the water near them!
Folly Beach, SC.
It sucks here, do not visit, tons of mosquitoes and E.Coli in the water! Huge turtles that eat children and a 13 foot Great White Shark washed up on the beach here in November, after dying just off shore.
This is legit, this same turtle migrated here (Folly Beach, SC) last summer 2008 and laid eggs. She was 6 1/2 feet long. I believe this is the pic taken by a volunteer here, as it was heading back into the water after nesting.
Do not come here! Jellyfish, mosquitoes, sharks, and turtles that eat babies! A 13 foot Great White shark was cruising off our beach this entire fall, it died and washed up in the first week of november, 2008.
Um what kind of idiots are actually suggesting that this isn’t real? Go to a beach and aquarium and do some research. I can’t remember where I saw a leatherback sea turtle as I have lived in five states in the past year alone. I am pretty sure it was in South Carolina at either an aquarium and something similar. I almost want to say it was Ripleys aquarium in Myrtle Beach.
may I ride on it???
excellent reality ,today we study them tomorrow their turn…if only this is true …evolution of endanger species ? they are not !!!! think again …we are .. THE ENDANGER ONES.
Why are you so upset by the internet, it has been this way for many years. First! Shopped! Permataxxx!, Welcome to the internet sir.
so to clarify – yes this picture is real – you want any more proof, I have archives of photos just like this one – but true this should never have been taken at night with a flash – poor turtle probably freaked completely.
Not Shopped! hedgemonious, xenophobic American commenter’s can’t stand anything not fitting their own image! These are Canadians, they do different, as does the greater part of the world! Time to look up and away from your own belly button, America! Asians are eating you alive, have superior education, and Canadians speak two languages at least – all of them! and none of them give a fat-ass damn about Michael Jackson’ death either! Get out of Afghanistan before it destroys you! The turtles are part of the “environment” – a new word for you, look it up! Wake up America! Last Call! Last call.
is this true? if i saw a sea turtle i would help it.
@ Uncle B…….I know it must be frustrating up there in the cold and am sure you see these leatherbacks on a daily bases up there in there in the north.But please just point out one thing that Canada has contributed to….well anything that gives you a right to criticize anyone……The best you can do is point out the intelligence of Asians and multi-language speakers? Um, what does that have to do with saving the environment?And that last I checked didn’t Canada have troops over in that mess in the middle east?
So why don’t you try actually doing something productive to represent Canada instead of trolling a a nice blog on turtles…..eh.