Saving Kemp’s ridley turtles in Gulf of Mexico

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A good news about releases of turtles in Louisiana waters.

Kemp's ridley turtle

An endangered Kemp?s ridley turtle is held by Dr Tres Clarke, a veterinarian for the Audubon Nature Institute, as he releases it into the Gulf of Mexico, 24 miles off the coast of Louisiana. Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP

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4 thoughts on “Saving Kemp’s ridley turtles in Gulf of Mexico”

  1. Michael White

    The, still modest, recovery of Kemp’s Ridley has been a remarkable success story involving many 100s of partners and much effort. Kemp’s, curiously, exhibit arribada behaviour ~ nesting en-masse. In the case of another sea turtle, Olive Ridley, this also nests en-masse, but over several nights. The Kemp’s ALL nest on the same day and at the same time … and until quite recently all on a single beach Rancho Nuevo.

    In the 1940’s some aerial film showed many 1000’s of Kemps nesting there, then a few years later it was hundreds, until at the end there were only 400 nesters left. The Mexican government put a military blockade round the site, forced egg-harvesters to cease, and carefully monitored their efforts hoping for a miracle. They got one 🙂

    Through persistent effort Kemp’s now has extended its range, probably recolonising its historic distribution, so that nesting now occurs in Florida, Georgia & Louisiana. I imagine Texas gets a look in too. So far so good, however the Gulf of Mexico is heavily impacted by shrimp trawlers … but that is another story. Mike 🙂

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  2. Janos Post author

    When I noticed this report I was perfectly sure that it makes you happy. It made me happy as well. A year ago I found an internet address where one can apply for voluntary work in Greece in a turtle rescue camp. So far it was on hold but now as I started to distant myself from the financial world the time has come to check it.

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  3. Michael White

    You can apply to work with Archelon, they run projects in several locations : fieldwork will mainly be from around Easter until say September, includes Crete ~ very good one on west side of Peloponnese, Kyparissia. Zakynthos too. Maybe a little up at Lefkadas, not sure. They also have a sea turtle hospital in Athens … I can put you in touch with people if interested, but just check out their websites, as there will be a host of information about all of their activities. Mike 🙂

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