K-5 6-12     Print this page

The Great Turtle Race

Eleven critically endangered leatherback turtles, each of them are over six feet long, will undertake a trans-oceanic migration from Indonesia to the coast of California.  Each is tagged with a revolutionary satellite tracking device, and the race is on. Which turtle will cross the finish line first as they journey towards California?

Situation

For millions of years these turtles have been able to survive in the oceans, lay their eggs on the beaches and repeat the cycle of life. Unfortunately, leatherbacks are in danger of extinction and are declining at an alarming rate. Leatherbacks in the Pacific Ocean have declined more than 90 percent in the past 20 years.  Your task is to find out the reasons why so few remain.

Definition of Conservation

Conservation is defined as the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of wildlife and of natural resources such as forests, soil, and water.

American Heritage Dictionary http://www.answers.com/topic/conservation

Do you think the human race comprehends this definition?

For a better understanding, the book Sea Turtles
is a complete guide to their biology, behavior and conservation, by James R Spotila, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London http://www.press.jhu.edu

Voyage of the Turtle
In Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur. The story of an ancient sea turtle and what its survival says about our future, by Carl Safina  http://www.henryholt.com

Photos courtesy of TAMAR-IBAMA