Rare capture of leatherback turtleNewsletter 7
Dato 29.9.2006
Rare capture of a juvenile leatherback turtle west of Africa
Late in the afternoon the alert was sounded yet again: Turtle mode! Turtle mode! But half an hour later, a young leatherback lay in the open tank on VÆDDEREN’s quarterdeck.
29 September 2006
This undisputed highlight of the day was courtesy of Rikke Danø and Jesper Møller of DMU (the Danish National Environmental Research Institute). The event is nothing less than sensational. The leatherback is a severely endangered species, and, as far as we know, this is the first time such a young leatherback turtle has been caught and fitted with a satellite transmitter
 
Photograph Rane Baadsgaard Lange, The Danish Expedition Foundation
DNA tests were taken and the animal was measured and weighed (85 kilos), before being released a few hours later. Besides the satellite transmitter, plastic tags were attached to both fore flippers.
The leatherback turtle is weighed and measured. Rikke Danø and Jesper Møller from DMU were excited by the catch of a juvenile of the species on 29 September. A satellite transmitter will be attached to the turtle's back.
Photograph Rane Baadsgaard Lange, The Danish Expedition Foundation
From the satellite transmitter’s ongoing signals, researchers will be able to follow the creature’s solitary wanderings across the oceans.
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