TRACKING

THE PAST TO MANAGE THE FUTURE

Using Technology For Marine Turtle Conservation In The
Latin America And The Caribbean Region

Satellite Telemetry For The Conservation Of Threatened Species
All sea turtles that inhabit the oceans of the planet are currently endangered. To learn
more about their behavior and threatens they face scientists from WWF LAC have
deployed small satellite transmitters on the carapaces of marine turtles in the Eastern
Pacific Ocean (http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?project_id=791). With the aid of
these satellite tags, marine investigators will be able to know the movements, routes and
sites visited by the turtles during their long journeys and understand more about the
natural history of these ancient and charismatic species. Information gathered would
allow researchers to strengthen management strategies to reduce their risk of extinction.
By protecting sea turtles in the Easters Pacific we are also protecting very fragile and
endangered ecosystems of great significance for the marine life in our planet.

Join NOW the WWF Latin America and Caribbean

Sea Turtle Satellite Tracking Project
We need you to save the Oceans

When you adopt a turtle equipped with a satellite transmitter, you are helping scientists to
improve their knowledge for better protect them in our beaches and the ocean. You can
track your adopted turtle through the Internet and receive updated information about
location, distance traveled, depth and time of diving. Moreover, we will let you know how
many more persons are following your turtle and their nationalities, as well as other
interesting and cool data about the WWF Latin America and Caribbean Sea Turtle
Satellite Tracking Project (https://worldwildlife.org/stories/tracking-turtles-by-
satellite-for-better-conservation)


FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Satellite Telemetry? Satellite Telemetry is a very sophisticated technology that
allows the monitoring of wild life individuals, through a device, which transmits signals to
a satellite that encodes data and calculates the location of the individual being tracked on
land or water. This technology is costly due to the fact that each transmitter has to be
individually programmed and set up for each project and you are required to pay time for the
satellite.
How does it work? Each time your turtle goes to the surface to breath, the transmitter
placed on the carapace send a signal through the antenna. A satellite using the Argos
system, operated together by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for
the government of the United States (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), captures this signal and the French Space Agency (CNES), whose
mission is the monitoring for the environmental study and conservation.
Why use Satellite Telemetry on sea turtles? Sea turtles travel vast distances in
between the feeding areas and nesting beaches. Due to this and because their life cycle
takes place 90% of the time in the sea, it is very difficult for those who protect them to
track and find out their location. Satellite Telemetry is a useful tool to know where sea
turtles move, where they head and where they stay during substantial periods of time.
Knowing these, we could reduce the threats in key sites as well as in the routes followed to
reach them.
Why could a transmitter stop transmitting? There are many reasons for a transmitter
to stop transmitting; generally it is due to changes in the behavior of the animal, depletion
of the battery, damage of the antenna, detachment of the device or death of the animal.
Does the transmitter hurt the turtle? No. The transmitter is a small device specially
designed to cause as little disturbance to the swimming sea turtle as possible. The Sirtrack
transmitter type deployed on Gorgonas turtles is even hydro-dynamically shaped to reduce
the friction of water making the turtle get used to it easily and quickly. Turtle researchers use
a special epoxy to attach the transmitter that does not cause the turtle any discomfort.
What are my benefits when adopting a satellite turtle? The first benefit is to become
member of the citizens of the Planet concerned about the health of the oceans and of the
species they harbor. Besides, we will mail to you a Donation Certificate with the photo of
the adopted turtle, which will allow you to obtain tax exemptions from your annual
income statement for the amount donated. You will also receive permanent information
on your adopted turtle and other the research and conservation projects carried out by
WWF in the Latin America and the Caribbean region during a year.
How can I adopt a satellite turtle? It is very easy, you just have to fill in the form below
and send it altogether with the proof of deposit or bank transfer to the following address:
XXXXX
Cali
YYYYY
Bogot
Or you can also scan the documents and send them via e-mail to:
dfamorocho@wwf.org.co
In a couple of weeks you will receive your certificate and the password to log into the Web
page that will allow you to start traveling the ocean following your turtle.

!!! Adopting Satellite Turtles Is Natural Fun!!!

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WWF LAC SPECIES PROGRAM FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
MARINE TURLE ADOPTION FORM
No.
DATE
NAME:

SURNAME:

ADDRESS:

E MAIL:

PHONE:

CEL PHONE:

1 SATELLITE TURTLE

$4.000.000 COP

USD $2.200

2 SATELLITE TURTLES

$7.800.000 COP

USD $4.333

3 SATELLITE TURTLES

$11.600.000 COP

USD $6.444

ID:

I WISH TO ADOPT: