Lara Bay, Cyprus. Two female sea turtles nesting in Cyprus are being tracked by satellite for the first time, allowing the public to follow their movements across the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean Turtle Research and Conservation Society said on Wednesday that transmitters were fitted in June to a female green turtle and a female loggerhead turtle nesting in Lara Bay.
Research collaboration
The project is being carried out by the Mediterranean Turtle Research and Conservation Society, MedTRACS, in collaboration with the Sea Turtle Conservancy.
Lara Bay is one of the Levant’s most important breeding sites for green and loggerhead turtles. MedTRACS said the programme aims to improve understanding of the migration of Cyprus’ sea turtles.
The monitoring is expected to provide researchers with information on migration routes, feeding grounds, habitat use and threats faced by turtles during their journeys.
Named turtles
The green turtle and loggerhead turtle have been named Andrea and Lara.
Andrea was named in honour of Andreas Dimitropoulos, who founded Cyprus’ Sea Turtle Conservation Programme in 1978. MedTRACS said his work laid the foundations for sea turtle conservation in Cyprus and the wider region.
Lara was named after Lara Beach, which the organisation described as the heart of the programme and one of the Mediterranean’s most important nesting beaches for both species.
Public tracking
MedTRACS said the initiative is the first time satellite transmitters have been attached to female turtles nesting in the Gulf of Lara.
Members of the public can follow both turtles through online tracking maps and observe their migration across the Mediterranean in real time.