USAKA Turtle Release Program

The captive sea turtles on the United States Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site (RTS) have been part of island life for almost as long as the test site has existed there (approximately 40 years). Starting off as a concrete lined ditch and then undergoing a renovation in 1995, the "turtle pond" is home to six green sea turtles (3 females and 3 males) and one male Hawksbill. Oversight of the pond is performed by Kwajalein Range Services (KRS), the current M&O contractor. It became necessary to release several males in order to balance the number of male turtles to female turtles. Additionally, release of the Hawksbill was imperative to prevent the possible intermingling of turtle species. One mature female green and the mature male hawksbill were fitted with satellite transmitters and released on April 20, 2006. The release and tracking will provide much needed data on Marshall Island turtles including, nesting, feeding and migration patterns. Two other green sea turtles were also released but did not have transmitters attached.

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: ground condition

SPATIAL REFERENCE INFORMATION - GEODETIC MODEL
Horizontal Datum Name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid Name: WGS_1984
Semi-major Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257224