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Satellite
tracking: an example
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Satellite
tracking: an example
Press
Release No.2 (16/04/97) On Sunday April 13th 1997 the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles
- MEDASSET and the Naples Research Centre of Zoology and for the Rehabilitation
of Sea Turtles - ” Anton Dohrn•, jointly organized the release of a Caretta
caretta sea turtle from the Greek island of Kefalonia. The turtle had been fitted
with a special satellite transmitter on her back in order to enable scientists
to monitor and to record, for six to eight months via Satellite, her movements
in the Mediterranean.
This would be the first time that the release of a sea turtle for tele-monitoring
via satellite had taken place in Greece and the second time in the Mediterranean
as a whole. The use of such advanced technology allows vast areas to be covered
and vital data concerning the sea turtles‘ migratory routes to be recorded in
a short period of time. This is essential for the study and the protection of
these species.
"Paola" arrived in Sami (on the
island of Kefalonia) by ”MEDLINK LINES• from Napoli, inside a specially prepared
travelling case and was accompanied by the Italian Biologist Angela Paglialonga
and a television crew from the Italian State Television (RAI). The reception
and release of ”Paola• was organized in Kefalonia by the Mediterranean Association
to Save the Sea Turtles - MEDASSET. Experienced divers from the Hellenic Club
of Underwater Activities and Research (HCUAR), recorded ”Paola‘s• release using
underwater video and stills photography, while RAI TV covered the operation
from the beach.
The turtle‘s release took place
on that same afternoon from the beach at Skala. The reasons this particular
area had been selected were firstly, because Skala beach is a sea turtle nesting
area secondly because the water temperature in the lonian sea is higher, at
this time of year than in the Adriatic and thirdly because illegal fishing using
the disastrous drift nets is prevalent in Italy at this time of year.
One of the victims of this illegal
and destructive method of fishing was ”Paola• herself who, on 4.11.95, was destined
to become...turtle soup. She had been transported to the beach by local fishermen.
Fortunately for her, however, 15 year old Paola daughter of the beach restaurant
owner, who knew through the Media about the ” Anton Dohrn• rehabilitation programme
of Sea Turtles, together with her father, took hold of the sea turtle, loaded
her in their car and delivered her in the middle of the night to the Research
Centre of Zoology in Napoli. The turtle was examined by experts who discovered
that her stomach contained fishing hooks! One large hook was embedded inside
her oesophagus and had to be removed by endoscopy while the rest were discarded
in the normal way.
The Research Centre of Zoology "Anton
Dohrn" in Naples is the first such Centre founded internationally In 1872, Anton
Dohrn, a friend of Charles Darwin founded the Centre in order to provide scientific
confirmation for the theories of his friend.MEDASSET has been co-operating since
1996 with Dr. Flegra Bentivegna, the Centre‘s curator Chief Researcher, who
is responsible for the programme of rehabilitation and telemetry monitoring
through satellite of the Mediterranean Sea Turtles.
The sea turtle release operation
was strongly supported by the Vice-Prefect of Kefalonia Mr. Alivizatos, the
Harbour-Master Mr. Galiatsatos, the Port Authority of Sami, the President of
the Skala I Razakli Local Community, Mr. Andrew Zapantis, the Consul of Italy
in Kefalonia, Mrs. Anna - Maria Minegardi and the Local SUPER CHANNELTV. A large
number of the local inhabitants took part while the owner of the White Rocks
Hotel, Mrs. N. Kontodimos, offered her generous hospitality to all from the
Research Centre of Zoology, MEDASSET, HCUAR and the RAl/TV representatives.
Island
of Kefalonia - Paola release point (13/04/97)
Cape Tenaro
- Paola loss in transmission (25/05/97)
Island
of Kea - Paola resumes transmission (06/97) Further
resources:
Status
of the Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Naples and preliminary study of Migration.
Press
Release No.2 16/04/97
Brief
notes on migration in Sea Turtles.
Brief
notes on satellite tracking methods.
The "Paola"
project.
