Jacky

Gabon 2010-11: Corisco Bay, Green Turtles

A project of Marine Turtle Research Group.

click map for full-size version Jacky was released at its capture site in Corisco Bay, Gabon on March 18th, 2010.

Full-Size Map (54KB)

Species: Green Turtle
Life Stage: juvenile
Gender: Unknown
Release Date: 2010-03-17 16:26:00
Release Location: Corisco Bay
Last Location: 2011-08-17 04:15:54

Background

Jacky was the third green turtle to carry a satellite transmitter in Gabon. The turtle has the honor of being named after the wife of the local fisherman that helped us to find and capture turtles for our research. Jacky was caught in a turtle net (closely attended) in Corisco Bay near the uninhabited island of Cocotier. Based on its size (69.6 cm curved carapace length, weighing 43 kg), this turtle is a juvenile.

Corisco Bay is an important foraging habitat for juvenile, sub-adult and adult green turtles stemming from at least 10 different rookeries (based on genetic studies). The bay is speckled with rocky fringing reefs and sand bars as well as abundant seagrass and algea upon which green turtles graze. Corisco Bay waters are shared by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea creating an interesting dynamic for community outreach and conservation efforts. As yet, we don't know how long individual turtles remain in Coriso Bay, what regions or habitat features are especially important to them, or where they go when they depart. Jacky and the other turtles tagged this season will hopefully provide such information.