Did you know? Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtles and travel up to 20,000 km a year.
The gentle giants come to our shore each year to nest from March through August before returning to sea. So, where do they go next?
Tracking Turtles
Last year Dominica Sea Turtle Conservation Organization Inc. (DomSeTCO), in collaboration with Rosalie Bay Resort, the Nature Enhancement Team (NET) and the Georgia Aquarium, affixed satellite tags on leatherbacks that nested on our black sand beach to track their post-nesting migration.
Meet Jeanie
We first welcomed Jeanie to our black sand beach in May of last year. The spectacular leatherback was believed to be a younger female measuring in with a Curved Carapace Length (CCL) of 139 cm and Curved Carapace Width (CCW) of 108 cm.
Since then, we’ve been tracking her journey at sea.
Follow Jeanie
For updates on Jeanie’s travels, click here.
- May 4, 2014: Jeanie nests for the first time at Rosalie Bay
- 59 yolked eggs laid
- Receives her first set of flipper tags
- May 21, 2014: Jeanie returns to our beach to nest
- 26 yolked eggs laid
- Equipped with a Wildlife Computers SPOT tag
- April 20, 2015: Jeanie has not stopped swimming!
- 336 days of swimming
- 17,341km / 10.5 miles covered
Sea Turtle Season
DomSeTCO has coordinated the tagging of nine leatherback sea turtles on our beach and Bout Sable during 2011, 2012 and 2014. We are thrilled to share the program will continue this year.
Stay tuned this season as we tag and track more sea turtles on their journey.
Or, visit with us and witness one of these beautiful creatures in action. It’s simply magical.
A special thank you to all of the participating organizations: Dominica Sea Turtle Conservation Organization Inc. (DomSeTCO) The Georgia Aquarium Seaturtle.org WIDECAST NET Rosalie Community Group – Data collection on sighting forms, Patrolling, Tagging La Plaine Patrollers at Bout Sable – Data collection on sighting forms, Patrolling, Tagging IFAW Disney Foundation The Beverly Foundation Photographs courtesy Mr. Bob Cooper.