Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire has installed satellite transmitters on the shells of sea turtles Gabriela and Mateo. As a result, both turtles can now be followed. Gabriela has already passed Aruba. Mateo has been spotted near Playa Chikitu in Washington Slagbaai National Park.
On Friday, July 21, the first satellite transmitter was attached. This was on Mateo, a green sea turtle with a 43.3 inch shell. She laid her nest of eggs that evening on Playa Chikutu. After she finished doing so, Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire staff fitted her with the transmitter. Mateo was named in memory of Joshua Mateo Fortes-Jordan, who was fond of Bonaire's sea turtles.
According to Mateo's transmitter records, the sea turtle is still present in the vicinity of Playa Chikitu. Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire suspects that she will come ashore again soon to lay another nest.
The other sea turtle equipped with a satellite transmitter is Gabriela. This loggerhead has a shell of 37.4 inch. She was found laying her nest on the beach in southern Bonaire on Sunday, July 23.
Gabriela, meanwhile, has been swimming quite a bit. According to the satellite transmitter, she has already passed Aruba. After the breeding season, the adult females return to their foraging grounds. These are often deeper reefs with more food sources than the shallow reefs.
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire's mission is to ensure that Bonaire's sea turtles have a safe future. In addition, the organization informs people in an inspiring way about sea turtle conservation. They have been doing this since 1991. Remax Bonaire is sponsoring Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire by adopting a sea turtle nest. In the meantime, this nest has been laid.