12 The natural world

Presenter

Audio script

Hello and welcome to Nature Watch. Our guest on todays programme is Professor William
Richards of the Conservation Society. Welcome to the programme.

Prof Richards

Thank you.

Presenter

Professor Richards, youve just taken part in a project studying the leatherback sea turtle.

Prof Richards

Thats right. The leatherback is the largest of all living sea turtles, but its currently a critically
endangered species. The Pacific Ocean population is bordering extinction; in the last 30 to 40
years, more than 98% of them have disappeared and there are only a few hundred females left.

Presenter

So what has caused this dramatic fall in numbers?

Prof Richards

There are different causes in different areas. In the Pacific, the major reason for the turtles
decline is that their eggs are collected by humans for food. In the Atlantic, however, the main
danger comes from fishing. You see, turtles are often caught by accident. They get caught on
the hooks used to catch tuna, or in large fishing nets. In both cases, the turtle is held under the
water until it eventually drowns.

Presenter

Professor Richards, tell us about your research.

Prof Richards

Our aim was to track the journeys taken by female leatherback turtles as they cross the Atlantic
Ocean. Knowing more about the routes they take will better enable us to protect them. Turtles
are born on the beach. The largest nesting site is the Mayumba National Park in Gabon in
Africa. Each female lays about a hundred eggs in the sand every year and these will hatch
within about seventy days. As soon as theyre born, the young turtles run into the sea and
spend their first few years floating around in the ocean currents until they reach maturity. The
mothers, meanwhile, swim thousands of miles across the Atlantic to find food before returning
to breed again the following year. It was this extraordinary journey from the nesting site to the
feeding ground that we were investigating.

Presenter

So what did you discover?

Prof Richards

Well, we were able to observe female turtles using three clear migratory routes. These animals
swim remarkable distances we tracked one that swam nearly 6,800 kilometres in 150 days.

Presenter

Incredible! And how did you track the turtles?

Prof Richards

Each female was fitted with a simple transmitter on her back. This was powered by four lithium
camera batteries. Signals were sent by the transmitter to a satellite receiver every time the turtle
came up for air.

Presenter

And how is this research going to help protect the leatherback?

Prof Richards

Well, all of the routes we have identified take the turtles through areas of high risk from
fishermen. People are already reacting to this knowledge by adopting new fishing strategies.
For example, different-shaped hooks have already been developed. Plus, different-coloured

12 The natural world

Audio script

lights are now being used. In the future, we hope that different types of bait will be sold which
will attract certain species of fish but not turtles. Knowing their routes has also helped us identify
at least eleven nations who should be involved in conservation efforts. Basically, the research
will make it easier for the conservation community to work towards protecting leatherbacks at
sea, something which had previously been very difficult.
Presenter

Professor Richards, thank you for joining us.

Prof Richards

Thank you.