Mostly Cloudy, 79° F
GNP NEWS: Monitoring of Sea Turtle Nesting Sites
15 January 2010
This work is performed to determine the number of sea turtles that come to nest in Galapagos and their reproductive success.
A park ranger and CDF official measure the carapace of a turtle that is resting on the beach.
The Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) and the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), with support from local and foreign volunteers, have resumed a sea turtle monitoring program that measures a range of data related to the nesting season of this species.
The monitoring process has made it possible to record the number of females who come to deposit their eggs at popular nesting sites throughout the archipelago, assess the reproductive success of the species and its population status. Additionally, the program is observing the effects of human activity on sea turtle populations.
For the past seven years, the CDF has coordinated sea turtle monitoring. The GNPS is now leading this process.
The Galapagos Islands are one of the main nesting sites of the green turtle Chelonia mydas. The species’ survival is being threatened by fishing (the tortoises are often caught as bycatch), egg collection in regions outside Galapagos, and the negative effects of climate change on nesting sites. Global efforts are being made to assist the recovery of this species, and the GNPS is coordinating the conservation of these reptiles in the Galapagos archipelago.
Proceso de Relaciones Públicas – Parque Nacional Galápagos – Ecuador
For more information, write to: comunicacion@spng.org.ec, or visit www.galapagospark.org
I am trying to find out the nesting times for the blue fotted boobies and the gaint tortise in the Galapagos. Also what would be the best itme to visit. There seems to be conflicting information on some sites. Which month would be best to see both the giant tortise and the blue footed boobies and of course the igaunas.
Thank you
Jan Sharples
— Jan Sharples · Thursday January 21, 2010 · #
Sea turtles around the world are in danger, for two of the reasons you provided here. Some areas are blessed with folks who monitor the animals, but I fear it’s a losing cause. If only all fishermen everywhere were required to have TED devices in their nets; perhaps the by-catch problem would lessen somewhat. Thanks for all you do!
— Sylvia Campbell · Saturday March 06, 2010 · #