Turtle Race To Be Tracked On The Web

[Saint_Michael 3]

Well T0 give a 4 day update we now have out gold silver and bronze winners for the turtle race and they are:

1st Place-- Billie
2nd Place-- Stephanie Colburtle
3rd Place-- Champiro
4th Place-- Turtleocity

Well saphira you did good maybe next time we will take good Here's what's been happening in the last 5 days

Day #8

Beak to beak and barreling towards the finish line, Stephanie Colburtle and Billie completed Day Eight of The Great Turtle Race at the front of the pack.
The girls led the charge of competitors as they hurtled over Cocos Ridge, the underwater mountain chain stretching southwest to northeast between the Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica.

Propelling forward with their front limbs and steering with their back ones, the distance swimmers headed for the finish. Turtleocity stuck close to Purple Lightning, drafting her newfound friend. Maybe the amigas are diving together, too. Genevieve and Freedom, meantime, refused to back down, perhaps waiting for their big break.

To keep up with the race action, visit The Great Turtle Race, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes. While you're there, check out the Sea Turtle School page to find educational activities, blogs, publications, and other resources on sea turtle conservation.

Day #9

Remarkable dives stole the show Tuesday during Day Nine of The Great Turtle Race.
Though far behind her competitors, Deputy Drexelina set an impressive record of her own. The Hollywood starlet dove to a shocking 2,264 feet on Tuesday - nearly half a mile! A race psychologist says Drexelina may have needed a quick break from the attention shes gathered in this competition and sought refuge underwater where theres no light, cameras, or action.

Genevieve likewise impressed fans with a 1,738-foot dive - another plunge far deeper than any seen on previous race days.

Far closer to the finish line, Billie regained the lead Tuesday with an impressive swim. Billie now appears less than ten miles from winning the race. Stephanie Colburtle looks strong in second place, and Saphira holds a steady third.

To keep up with the race action and to cheer on the turtles, visit The Great Turtle Race, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes.

Also, please consider offering your support to The Leatherback Trust, co-organizer of The Great Turtle Race and non-profit organization committed to protecting leatherback turtles and their nesting habitat at Playa Grande It's easy and secure! Click here to make a donation.

Day #10 This is the day Billie Wins the Great Turtle Race

Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner!
Billie - cheered on by billfish and friends throughout the sea - finished The Great Turtle Race in first place around 6:00 a.m. PST on Thursday. She may not have been the longest or widest turtle of the bunch, but Billie swam a flawless race!

Were overjoyed that Billie has won the race - even in the face of aggressive challenges from Stephanie Colburtle the Turtle, said Paxson Offield of the Offield Center for Billfish Studies, Billies proud sponsor in the Great Turtle Race. She is a hero to turtles, billfish, and the many other marine animals that are threatened and going faster than you think. Way to go, Billie, and congratulations to all of the other racers!"

But the race isn't over yet...Stephanie Colburtle now looks certain for second place far southeast of the winners course. George Shillinger, a sea turtle expert who tagged the girls at Playa Grande, explained how the competitors find their way to the finish zone.

The ocean is like a pinball machine, said Shillinger, who works for Tagging of Pacific Predators. The turtles shoot out of the starting gate at the nesting beach and appear to be moving in a directed fashion, but they are also subject to ocean currents and other environmental factors which can sling them in different directions. Thats why we have a finish zone for the race and not a simple finish line.

Elsewhere on the course, Turtleocity took the prize as this years deep dive champion on Wednesday when she plunged to an unprecedented 2,789 feet. Despite their occasional underwater stunts, turtles in this years race are actually staying closer to the surface than they have in previous competitions. Scientists say thats because this is the first year since they starting tagging turtles at Playa Grande that La Nińa weather patterns have been apparent in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. La Nińa conditions can make shallow water colder than usual and churn up lots of good food closer to the oceans surface.

In other news, Turtleocitys pal Purple Lightning also impressed crowds on Wednesday, swimming with gusto into the No. 4 spot. Champiro likewise had a strong swim on Day Ten as she wowed fans with her highly-anticipated sense of direction. Champiro has positioned herself well for an open, straight shot to the finish zone.

Freedom and Genevieve, meantime, swam with the same power and consistency on Wednesday that they have demonstrated throughout The Great Turtle Race. Both turtles have forged a fairly straight path for the Galapagos since leaving Playa Grande.

For more information, visit The Great Turtle Race, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes. Also, on the Great Turtle Race website, visit the How Can I Help? page to learn more about how our everyday actions affect sea turtles and other ocean wildlife.

Also, please consider offering your support to The Leatherback Trust, co-organizer of The Great Turtle Race and non-profit organization committed to protecting leatherback turtles and their nesting habitat at Playa Grande It's easy and secure! Click here to make a donation.

Day #11 The Day Stephanie Colburtle Takes Second Place

Stephanie Colburtle Takes Second Place!
This just in: Stephanie Colburtle has held off come-from-behind Champiro just long enough to take second place in The Great Turtle Race!

Stephanie propelled into the finish zone to thunderous applause around 7:30 a.m. PST this morning. To the crowds delight, Champiro finished in third place one mere mile behind her, a few short hours later.

Champiro stunned fans Thursday as she tapped into her reserve, propelling herself forward with a strength no one had seen from her yet this year. She did so just as Saphira ran out of energy, knocking herself out of contention for a medal.

Now analysts are keeping a close eye on Turtleocity. Turtleocitys recent dive record has apparently brought her a taste for fame and supplied her with a newfound energy. That means spectators should also keep track of Turtleocitys sidekick, Purple Lightning; these two stick together!

Rooting for the others? Cheer a little louder and Windy, Genevieve, Freedom, Sundae and Drexelina just might hear you! Show the turtles your support by visiting The Great Turtle Race, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes. While you're there, visit the How Can I Help? page to learn more about how our everyday actions affect sea turtles and other ocean wildlife.

Remember, if youd like to offer a donation to help save the leatherbacks, take a look at the How Can I Help? page of http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/. There you will also learn how your daily actions can help or hinder sea turtles and other ocean wildlife. Simple actions such as making more careful seafood choices and eliminating plastic bag use mean a lot to the turtles!

Well our first 4 turtles are in maybe by late saturday we will know our 5th, 6th, and 7th place turtles.

[Saint_Michael 3]

Well this Great Turtle race is over and here are the Final results;

Taking the gold medal and in first place - Billie
Taking the silver medal for 2nd place - Stephanie Colburtle
Taking the bronze medal for 3rd place - Champiro
4th - Turtleocity
5th - Purple Lightning
6th - Genevieve
7th - Saphira (My turtle)
8th - Freedom
9th - Windy
10th - Drexelina
11th - Sundae

Now for the last 3 days of results

Day 12

After Stephanie Colburtle's and Champiro's close finish on Friday morning, congratulations now go to rookies Turtleocity and Purple Lightning! The girls finished The Great Turtle Race on Friday afternoon with impressive fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively. Experts are certain these two young ladies have what it takes to remain in the race for years to come.
On Friday night, Saphira and Genevieve had not yet completed the race, but were swimming beak to beak toward the zone. Race experts are stunned that after 500 miles, two sea turtles might just finish this race in a tie!

Freedom isnt far behind. As for Windy, some speculate that shes made a pit stop in a patch of jellyfish. Windys odd, zig-zagging behavior has puzzled some scientists, but they are eager to learn more from turtles like her. Studying turtle behavior helps scientists understand what waters need to be protected and what actions people can take to keep them healthy.

Remember: The race isnt over yet! Show your friends still out on the course your support by visiting http://www.greatturtlerace.com/, where the turtles' movements are updated every 10 minutes. While you're there, visit the How Can I Help? page to learn more about how your daily actions can help or hinder sea turtles and other ocean wildlife. Simple actions such as making more careful seafood choices and eliminating plastic bag use mean a lot to the turtles! You can also offer a donation on the website to help protect the leatherbacks' nesting beach at Playa Grande, Costa Rica.

Day 13

In a near photo finish, two more dedicated sea turtles finished The Great Turtle Race on Day Thirteen of the competition! Genevieve swam into the finish zone in sixth place, followed directly behind by seventh-place Saphira. Race referees looked at their turtle tracker several times before posting the nail-biting results!
Analysts are now confident that Freedom and Windy will swim into the finish zone on Day Fourteen. Sundae and Drexelina may not get there this year, but spectators remain proud of the work theyre doing on the coast. Scientists analyzing the race have expressed their confidence that these two ladies will begin their migration soon.

As the race nears its end, organizers say they are extremely grateful that this years competitors stayed as safe and healthy as they did.

Staying strong and not getting sick is not always easy in the open ocean. Turtles often confront pollution and waste - like chemicals, trash, plastic bags, and left-behind fishing gear - along their journeys. Organizers reminded fans Saturday to do everything they can to protect the oceans for competitors in years to come.

In the meantime, keep cheering for Freedom and Windy and watch as they cross into the finish zone at http://www.greatturtlerace.com/. While you're there, visit the How Can I Help? page to learn more about how your daily actions can help or hinder sea turtles and other ocean creatures. For instance, when you make careful, turtle-friendly seafood choices or when you use your own canvas bag or backpack at the grocery store instead of plastic bags, it helps! You can also offer a donation on the website to help protect the leatherbacks' nesting beach at Playa Grande, Costa Rica.

Day 14

What a fantastic competition!
On the final day of The Great Turtle Race, Freedom streaked across the finish to take eighth place. Windy landed in the No. 9 spot. And although Deputy Drexelina and Sheriff Sundae postponed their swim, fans showered them with applause Sunday night for safeguarding the shore!

So whats next for the lovely ladies? In the months ahead, all of our favorite turtles will migrate south through the waters of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. Along the way, its very possible theyll dodge threats like longlines from fishing boats, gillnets, and pollution floating in the ocean. For instance, plastic bags in the water that look deceivingly like jellyfish are cause for serious concern.

To help the sea turtles overcome those obstacles, visit How Can I Help? at http://www.greatturtlerace.com/. One simple way to keep cheering them on is to use your own canvas bag or backpack at the grocery store instead of plastic bags - it really helps!

As for future races? It's possible that the racecourse of ladies swimming to the Galapagos could get more crowded due to climate change, because higher temperatures tend to produce more females than males. All of those threats combined means sea turtles need all the friends they can get.

To keep rooting for your turtles, you can donate on The Great Turtle Race website to help protect the leatherbacks nesting beach at Playa Grande. You can also learn more about how to keep their environments safe through the race organizers: Tagging of Pacific Predators, The Leatherback Trust, and Conservation International.

This sure was a good interesting race, hopefully the turtles and the research get help in protecting these cool turtle, can't wait for the next race. Of course the race to save these turtles are still going on so if you want to help out visit their site and see what you can do.

http://www.greatturtlerace.com/

[techclave 0]

It seems to be a Really cool concept. I was watching a documentary about the leatherback turtles on Animal Planet, the other day. It was a part of the One Planet series. I guess they are the largest species among tutles, and they lay quite a large number of eggs.I visited the website you mentioned. Seems that there are quite a variety of turtles to cheer . I think i am going to pick Billie.Go Billie, Go !!!

[Saint_Michael 3]

Well the other day I got email about this so I thought I would update everyone about whats been going on since then, and sadly a lot of things happen, but this email will explain more about it.

 

With the excitement of The Great Turtle Race behind us, youre probably wondering, What are the turtles up to now?"

 

Seven of the eleven turtles - Genevieve, Sundae, Turtleocity, Freedom, Purple Lightning, Billie, and Saphira - are well on their way to their feeding grounds off Peru and Chile. Unfortunately, two turtles, Stephanie Colburtle and Drexelina, haven't transmitted any information on their locations for over 100 days. We are also concerned about two other race contenders, Windy and Champiro, who haven't been heard from in a while. Leatherback turtles face many threats on their ocean journeys. Below are some possible explanations for the silence from Stephanie and her fellow racers:

 

Did they die of old age?

Its not likely that Stephanie died of old age, says Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) researcher Jim Spotila, a turtle researcher who has been monitoring leatherbacks at Playa Grande, Costa Rica, for decades. Though it is difficult to tell a turtle's exact age, scientists did not consider any of the racing turtles old, based on their nesting histories on Playa Grande.

Did the leatherbacks harnesses fall off or were their satellite tags broken?

If seaweed, slimy algae, or barnacles have covered the tag, information on the location of the turtle cannot be transmitted. We've had tags go offline for as much as six months until the turtle moved to colder latitudes where the hitch-hiking critters presumably died and allowed the tag to restart, notes TOPP researcher Scott Eckert. Also, the tags are attached to the turtles with specially designed harnesses. The harness can fall off if the turtle gets entangled in a fishing line or encounters an aggressive male turtle. Sometimes, missing turtles have been known to reappear on nesting beaches without their tag.

Did commercial fishermen or shark-finners working off the Galapagos or Peru accidentally kill Stephanie, Windy, Drexelina, and Champiro?

Its possible that the turtles were caught by commercial fishermen. Though fishing policies are in place to protect the turtles in certain areas, illegal fishing does occur. Also, fishing by-catch in many areas, especially in the waters off Peru, is still unmonitored, so we don't truly know how many turtles or other ocean creatures are incidentally caught in fishing gear.

 

Did they eat too many plastic bags that looked like jellyfish?

Leatherback turtles can mistake plastic bags floating in the water as their favorite food, jellyfish. Ingesting plastic can weaken or even kill them. Because they are then unable to digest their real food, they can starve, or they may choke on the plastic and drown. Reducing your plastic bag use is one simple way you can take action in your daily life to improve life for leatherback turtles. Take action today to reduce your plastic bag use and sign CI's Plastic Bag Pledge now!

 

It's difficult to track the mysterious lives of leatherback turtles. We can only speculate on what may have happened to Stephanie, Windy, Drexelina, and Champiro, but given all the things that could go wrong, we feel lucky that were still hearing from seven of the eleven Great Turtle Race leatherbacks.

 

As a part of the global conservation community, you have a chance to make a real difference in the future of our planet. I hope youll take action today by taking the Plastic Bag Pledge to help secure a future for leatherback sea turtles.

 

Sincerely,

Vinnie Wishrad Signature

Vinnie Wishrad

Director, Online Community and Membership

Conservation International

 

P.S. Please help us spread the word about the threats that plastic bags pose to sea turtles by telling a friend today. Even simple, everyday actions like reducing plastic bag use can have a huge global impact.

Hopefully its just the technology that was damaged and not them.