Two months ago, Bob the green turtle embarked on a remarkable journey through the ocean. His journey has been meticulously tracked by the Turtle Conservation Centre, and the data collected has provided invaluable insights into the behaviour and movements of green turtles.
A Journey Through Diverse Aquatic Environments
Bob has covered an impressive distance of 3,009 km in just 62 days, travelling through approximately 24 Marine Protected Areas. Along the way, he has experienced a diverse range of aquatic environments, from the enormous underwater mountains of the Southeast Atlantic Seamounts to the thriving bottlebrush soft corals of Browns Bank Corals.
One of the Marine Protected Areas that Bob visited was Dwesa-Cwebe, a nursery ground for the white steenbras. This is an important area for conservation, as the white steenbras is a critically endangered species. Bob’s visit to this area is a reminder of the importance of protecting and conserving these amazing creatures.
A Journey Through Deep Waters
Bob stayed within the continental shelf for most of his journey, experiencing depths of a few hundred meters. However, in the last two weeks of his journey, he ventured into truly deep waters, thriving in waters thousands of meters deep. This is a remarkable feat for a green turtle, and it demonstrates their adaptability and resilience in the face of changing environments.
As Bob approached the Cape, he experienced a significant drop in water temperatures, from around 28 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius. This highlights the challenges that green turtles face as they navigate through different environments, and the importance of understanding their behaviour and movements in order to protect and conserve them.
The Importance of Tracking Green Turtles
Bob’s journey has been an exciting two months of tracking, and the data collected has provided invaluable insights into the behaviour and movements of green turtles. This is important for conservation efforts, as understanding the movements of green turtles can help to identify areas that are important for their survival and inform management decisions.
Overall, Bob’s journey has been a remarkable feat of endurance and adaptability. It is a reminder of the incredible diversity of life in the ocean, and the importance of protecting and conserving these amazing creatures for future generations to enjoy.
