'STINAPA'
Satellite Tracking of three species of sea turtles on Bonaire
A project of Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire.
 click map for full-size version Position and track for Green turtle 'STINAPA'
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Species: Green Turtle
Life Stage: Adult
Gender: Female
Release Date: 2004-10-31 23:40:00
Release Location: Playa Chikitu, Washington Park
Last Location: 2005-03-08 12:25:36
Background
This green turtle (turtuga blanku) nested on Playa Chikitu in Washington Slagbaai Park, Bonaire, on the night of October 31 and was fitted with a satellite transmitter by a team from Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) and Stichting Nationale Parken â Bonaire (STINAPA). This is the third turtle to be tracked during the current nesting season and the first green turtle ever fitted with a transmitter on Bonaire.
Based on the pattern of Green turtle nesting activity observed on Playa Chikitu during the last few weeks, STCB staff predicted the possible return of a Green turtle to the beach for Sunday night. A field team consisting of Debby Wauben (STINAPA), Fernando Simal (Washington Park manager, STINAPA, Hanny Kalk (volunteer and STCB webmaster), Gielmon Egbreghts and Robert van Dam (STCB) set out at night to monitor Playa Chikitu for nesting activity. Around 8 p.m. a large Green turtle was found already up on a sand dune and busy digging a large hole for placing her nest. She soon began laying eggs and was then measured (95.5 cm straight carapace length) and tagged on her front flippers. An hour later, after she covered her nesting area extensively with sand, the approximately 140 kg animal was intercepted by the team on her way towards the sea and a transmitter applied to the top of her carapace. At 11:40 pm the green turtle was released and she quickly departed into the rough surf off Playa Chikitu.
Green turtle âSTINAPAâ will be the third turtle to be tracked from Bonaire during the 2004 nesting season. Tracking of this Green turtle is made possible by a full sponsorship provided by STINAPA.
