The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently alerted readers to the start of the Tour de Turtles, which is a marathon where 11 sea turtles equipped with satellite transmitters are tracked to see which will be the first to travel 1,628 miles from its nesting site. The “race” began on August 1 and within nine days, the lead turtle had traveled more than 459 kilometers (285 miles).

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Florida was the only starting site open to the public for viewing. Progress of all 11 turtles can be watched at http://www.tourdeturtles.org. Each turtle swims for a cause, such as combating plastic debris, light pollution or native species predation.

According to the Tour de Turtles website:

Started in 2008, the Tour de Turtles (TdT) is a fun, educational journey through the science, research and geography of sea turtle migration using satellite telemetry. Created by Caribbean Conservation Corporation, with help from sponsors and partners, this event follows the marathon migration of sea turtles, representing different species, from their nesting beaches to their foraging grounds. 2009 is the second year of the TdT and will follow the migration of ten sea turtles, representing four different species.

Follow along to find out how long it takes each sea turtle to complete a marathon migration of 2,620 km (1,628 miles). Each turtle will be swimming for a cause to raise awareness about a specific threat to sea turtles. You can get involved by supporting a turtle to help raise awareness about their cause. While we may not know the outcome of the race, one thing is certain: saving sea turtles is a marathon, not a sprint!

Tags:
National Wildlife Refuge System, sea turtles, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, Florida