Other Turtle Discussion :: Turtle Race!

[ellman605]

Sundae keeps getting farther....lmao, i was sitting here cracking up watching the wiggling of them.

[Ferd]

Genevieve is just saving up for a dramatic end to the race and for now is taking a steady pase.
GO GENEVIEVE GO!

[SpotsMama]

Here's an update:

Monday, April 23:

It could all come down to who has the spiniest throat. As eleven sea turtles complete the first half of The Great Turtle Race, their ability to find food that will keep them energized is more crucial than ever. The spinier a leatherback’s throat, the more difficult it is for her favorite food - jellyfish - to slither away.

At the end of the day Sunday, first place was too close to call. That’s because leaders Billie and Stephanie Colburtle are doing an excellent job of keeping their energy levels high. Staying close to the surface for quick access to air to keep those muscles going, neither Billie nor Stephanie took a dive on Day Seven.

Saphira’s strategy continued to pay off as she propelled herself into third place. On the other hand, it became more apparent on Sunday that Windy may have started too fast to maintain her speed.

Turtleocity rediscovered her internal compass on Sunday, gliding into fourth. Freedom, Champiro, Genevieve and Purple Lightning are holding on strong, while Drexelina and Sundae remain on beach patrol.

To keep up with the race action, visit http://www.greatturtlerace.com/, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes. While you're there, check out the Sea Turtle School page to find blogs, links, publications, and other resources on sea turtle conservation.

[Ferd]

thats just too funny. "beach Patrol" keep those shifty humans at bay girls!

[SpotsMama]

Thursday, April 26:


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!

“We’re 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, Billie’s 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 winner’s 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. That’s 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 year’s deep dive champion on Wednesday when she plunged to an unprecedented 2,789 feet. Despite their occasional underwater stunts, turtles in this year’s race are actually staying closer to the surface than they have in previous competitions. Scientists say that’s because this is the first year since they starting tagging turtles at Playa Grande that La Niña weather patterns have been apparent in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. La Niña conditions can make shallow water colder than usual and churn up lots of good food closer to the ocean’s surface.

In other news, Turtleocity’s 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.

[grey goose]

What happened to Windy? She was such a hot rod!

[pumpkinsherbet]

overexerted herself

[Rocky YBS]

come on Freedome!
he didnt come 1st or 3rd but he has to beat windy!
this is going to be a great race to the finish for FREEDOME AND WINDY!
who do you think will get to the finish first, freedome or windy?

[grey goose]

I'm glad I'm not a betting man, I was cheering for Windy!

[SpotsMama]

Yeah, I was (and still am) cheering for Sundae, who is so far behind she hasn't even left the starting gate! They're saying now she may not even go at all this year!