Satellite tagging of rehabilitated green sea turtles Chelonia mydas from the United Arab Emirates, including the longest tracked journey for the species

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 5;12(9):e0184286. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184286. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

We collected movement data for eight rehabilitated and satellite-tagged green sea turtles Chelonia mydas released off the United Arab Emirates between 2005 and 2013. Rehabilitation periods ranged from 96 to 1353 days (mean = 437 ± 399 days). Seven of the eight tagged turtles survived after release; one turtle was killed by what is thought to be a post-release spear gun wound. The majority of turtles (63%) used shallow-water core habitats and established home ranges between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the same area in which they had originally washed ashore prior to rescue. Four turtles made movements across international boundaries, highlighting that regional cooperation is necessary for the management of the species. One turtle swam from Fujairah to the Andaman Sea, a total distance of 8283 km, which is the longest published track of a green turtle. This study demonstrates that sea turtles can be successfully reintroduced into the wild after sustaining serious injury and undergoing prolonged periods of intense rehabilitation.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Migration / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Ecosystem
  • Homing Behavior
  • Satellite Communications*
  • Seasons
  • Species Specificity
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors
  • Turtles / physiology*
  • United Arab Emirates

Grants and funding

The Jumeriah Group provided support in the form of research materials and salaries for authors WRB and DPR but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions section. WRB and DPR acted as independent researchers throughout this study. The journal publication fees for this manuscript were provided by the Jumeirah Group. All other collaborators, had no role in the preparation or decision to publish the manuscript.