Gabon 2009-10: Pongara, Leatherback Turtles

Original provider:
Marine Turtle Research Group / Seaturtle.org

Dataset credits:
Data provider
Marine Turtle Research Group
Originating data center
<a href='http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/' target='_blank'>Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool (STAT)</a>
Project partner
The partnerships' work in Gabon, which includes satellite telemetry of marine turtles (leatherback and <a href=http://www.wildlifetracking.org/index.shtml?project_id=146>olive ridley</a> turtles), training and capacity building in the use of fisheries <a href=http://www.fao.org/fishery/vms/1/en>vessel monitoring systems</a> and assessing the distribution and abundance of dolphins and whales is funded by the Darwin Initiative, which is financed by the <a href=http://www.defra.gov.uk/>Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs</a> of the UK Government under the project <a href=http://darwin.defra.gov.uk/project/17005/>Darwin Marine Biodiversity Action Plan for Gabon</a>.<br><br>Our work in Gabon is also supported by a range of additional funders, including the <a href=http://www.nerc.ac.uk>Natural Environment Research Council</a> (UK; Award NER/S/A/2004/12980), the <a href=http://www.largepelagics.unh.edu/>Large Pelagics Research Center</a>, funded through NOAA (US; Award NA04NMF4550391), the <a href=http://www.eaza.net/Pages/European%20Association%20of%20Zoos%20and%20Aquaria.aspx>European Association of Zoos and Aquaria</a>, through the <a href=http://www.biaza.org.uk/public/pages/campaignsNew/index.asp>Shellshock</a> campaign, and the <a href=http://www.esf.gov.uk/>European Social Fund</a>. The Gabon Turtle Partnership receives funding from the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund (US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior).

Abstract:
Since 2005, a partnership of <a href=http://www.seaturtle.org/mtrg/>conservation biologists</a> and Non-Governmental Organisations, lead by the <a href=http://www.ex.ac.uk>University of Exeter</a> & <a href=http://www.seaturtle.org>Seaturtle.org</a>, <a href=http://www.seaturtle.org/groups/gabon/home.html>The Gabon Turtle Partnership</a>, Parcs Gabon and the <a href=http://www.wcs.org>Wildlife Conservation Society</a> have been fitting satellite transmitters to <a href=http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/6494/0>leatherback turtles</a> (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) nesting in <a href=http://www.wcs.org/where-we-work/africa/gabon.aspx>Gabon</a> (Atlantic Coast, Central Africa), whose beaches host the worlds largest nesting aggregation of leatherback turtles, see <a href=http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/turtle-trove-in-gabon.aspx>link</a>.<br><br>This year's fieldwork is taking place in Pongara National Park, northwest Gabon, where the parternship has fitted 2 leatherback turtles with <a href=http://www.wildlifecomputers.com/>satellite tracking</a> devices. The two turtles have been named <a href=http://www.seaturtle.org/cgi-bin/imagelib/index.pl?photo=4797> Darwinia</a>, after the projects funders (<a href=http://darwin.defra.gov.uk/>Darwin Initiative</a>), and <a href=http://www.seaturtle.org/cgi-bin/imagelib/index.pl?photo=4798> Noelle</a> after the Christmas period. <br><br>Threats faced by leatherback turtles on the nesting beaches, in the coastal zone and in the open-sea are numerous; satellite tracking enables us to build an understanding of their critical habitats, with the hope to inform plans to limit negative interactions with human activities.<br><br>This years fieldwork follows the successes of last year, where females were tracked using Argos-linked GPS telemetry, see the <a href=http://www.wildlifetracking.org/index.shtml?project_id=340> project page</a>. In previous nesting <a href=http://www.wildlifetracking.org/index.shtml?project_id=104>seasons</a> we have attached satellite transmitters to leatherback turtles nesting in <a href=http://mayumbanationalpark.com/welcome.htm> Mayumba National Park</a>, in the southwest of Gabon.