It’s Tour De Turtles Time at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and Spa
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is one of the most important turtle-nesting habitats in the western hemisphere. For more than a decade, Disney’s sea turtle conservation team has conducted daily surveys along the nearly five miles of sea turtle nesting beach found at the resort. The dedicated team of cast members work to identify, mark and monitor sea turtle nests, as well as determine the hatching success of each nest. This helps Disney document sea turtle populations and conduct the conservation science, protection and outreach needed to ensure their survival.
Last week was a special time for Disney, turtle lovers and conservationists as well as guests to Disney’s magnificent Vera Beach Resort. The 12th annual Tour de Turtles provides a fun, educational journey that follows the migration of sea turtles from their nesting beaches to their feeding grounds.
Check out this awesome video of the experience:
As part of Tour de Turtles, the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC )and Disney’s DCF team worked together to outfit two female loggerhead sea turtles with satellite telemetry devices and sent the turtles back out into the ocean in a great “migration marathon.” This year’s turtles are named Ariel and Ursula, in honor of the 30thanniversary of Disney’s animated film, The Little Mermaid. It’s only fitting, as these turtles probably hatched around the time that the original film was released.
The data collected during Tour de Turtles helps researchers, conservationists and other agencies make more informed decisions about sea turtle conservation methods and policies. Since the event first launched in 2008, STC and Disney have partnered to study twenty loggerhead sea turtles outfitted with satellite transmitters and released from Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. As a result, scientists have been able to identify different foraging behaviors and regions, as well as seasonal movements based on water temperatures, which help determine which areas should be classified as critical habitat spaces for the loggerheads population.
The Disney Conservation Fund has also directed more than $3.5 million to support sea turtle research and conservation efforts in 24 countries around the world.
To learn more and follow the turtles’ migration, visit the Tour de Turtles website at www.tourdeturtles.org.
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