Two sea turtles raised by Florida Atlantic University researchers at Gumbo Limbo labs were released Saturday into the great blue with the hopes of telling us more about how young loggerheads live their lives.
The turtles were part of several conservation-based research studies conducted by Dr. Jeanette Wyneken, associate professor of biological sciences in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. The turtles are released at the end of each study into currents that serve as their nursery areas.
But these turtles are unique in that they are carrying new solar-powered miniature satellite tags.
“Some of the most important questions about how young sea turtles use the open ocean habitats as they travel and grow have remained unanswered because of a lack of the ability to tag or mark these rapidly growing turtles,” said Wyneken. “With new generations of tracking tag technology, we are now able to study the migratory movements of these small, very young turtles.”
They’re cute too.