In August 2006, the Nevis Turtle Group, the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC), and the Four Seasons Resort Nevis began an inaugural sea turtle research and conservation project to study the migration patterns of "critically endangered" hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting along the Caribbean coast of Nevis in the West Indies. The study will reveal important information about the turtle's migratory behavior, which will help both conservationists and natural resource managers to improve protection efforts for this endangered species. To date, six hawksbills have been tracked since the start of the program.
The satellite transmitter attached to each hawksbill sends signals to orbiting satellites each time the turtles surface to breath. The data will be collected and downloaded to STC researchers. Educational migration maps will show the best location points of the turtle's movements and locations. This will allow interested persons all over the world to watch along as researchers discover where the hwaksbill sea turtles travel after nesting. Through CCC's Sea Turtle Migration-Tracking Education Program, the public is invited to watch along on the Internet as we learn more about these amazing animals.
Click on the turtle's name to see a map of its movements.
2011 Turtles
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CORAL - Coral is an adult hawksbill sea turtle that was encountered nesting on Lover's Beach, Nevis, on August 3, 2011. Coral is taking part in the 2011 Tour de Turtles marathon. A satellite tag was applied after she nested. |
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PARADISE - Paradise is an adult female hawksbill sea turtle encountered nesting on Cotton Ground Beach, Nevis on August 4, 2011. Paradise is taking part in the 2011 Tour de Turtles marathon. A satellite tag was applied after she nested. |
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JEWEL - Jewel is an adult female hawksbill sea turtle encountered nesting on Cade's Bay Beach, Nevis on August 5, 2011. She measured 76.0 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and 79.0 cm in curved carapace width. Jewel measured wider than longer becasue she was missing the very end of her carapace. A satellite tag was applied after she nested |
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2008 Turtles
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HIBISCUS - Hibiscus is an adult female hawksbill sea turtle that was encountered on July 21, 2008, on Jones Bay, a secluded stretch of beach on the western coast of the island of Nevis. She measured 84.0 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and 79 cm in curved carapace width. A satellite tag was applied after she nested. |
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SUNSHINE - Sunshine is an adult female hawksbill sea turtle that was encountered on July 22, 2008, on Lover's Beach, a secluded stretch of beach on the northern coast of the island of Nevis. She measured 83.9 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and 77.6 cm in curved carapace width. A satellite tag was applied after she false crawled. |
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2007 Turtles
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CALYPSO - Calypso is an adult female hawksbill sea turtle that was encountered on July 29, 2007 on Lovers Beach, a secluded stretch of beach on the Caribbean coast of the island of Nevis. While she is shorter in shell lenght, Calypso was much wider than Ginger measuring 90.2 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and 82.8 cm in curved carapace width. A satellite tag was applied after she false crawled.
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GINGER - Ginger is an adult female hawksbill sea turtle that was encountered on July 28, 2007 on Jones Bay, a secluded stretch of beach on the Caribbean coast of the island of Nevis. She measured 91.4 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and 79.4 cm in curved carapace width. A satellite tag was applied after she false crawled.
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2006 Turtles
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MANGO - Mango, the larger of the two turtles, is an adult female hawksbill sea turtle that was encountered nesting on August 6, 2006 on Lover's Beach, a secluded stretch of beach on the Caribbean coast of the island of Nevis. She measured 95.9 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and 88.3 cm in curved carapace width. A satellite tag was applied after she finished laying her nest.
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NEVIS - Nevis is an adult female hawksbill sea turtle that was encountered nesting on August 6, 2006 on Jones Bay on the Caribbean coast of the island of Nevis. She measured 92.4 cm in curved carapace (shell) length and 81.0 cm in curved carapace width. A satellite tag was applied after she finished laying her nest.
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