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On June 11, 2005 a leatherback turtle appeared on Sandy Point which elicited
great excitement on the nesting beach. The turtle, exhibiting a left
rear flipper tag numbered VA 3361, did not possess local tags, and
therefore, her beach of origin was a mystery to researchers on Sandy Point,
St. Croix. The turtle appeared healthy, and her carapace was covered
with algae, acorn, gooseneck, and zebra barnacles. She successfully
deposited her eggs, was PIT tagged, measured, and an additional flipper tag
was applied. Blood samples were also taken for genetic analysis.
Further investigation into the origin of the mystery turtle numbered VA
3361 raised new questions regarding the story of this unique individual.
Tagging information showed that the leatherback turtle known as VA 3361 was
originally tagged on April 27, 2003, in Playa Larga, Bocas del Toro
Province, Panama! Playa Larga is 1,250 miles from the nesting beach at
Sandy Point! Since mature turtles return to the beach where they were
hatched (a concept called natal homing), this occurrence is puzzling!
A turtle originally tagged in Panama should presumably be of Panamanian
origin and would not be expected to show up 1,250 miles away, in the
Caribbean.
The mystery remains as to where this turtle truly originated. Was
she a wayward neophyte that hatched on Sandy Point and caught the wrong
current to Panama when she reached maturity? Or, is she of South
American stock and took a wrong turn on her way to the nesting beach in
2005, ending up in St. Croix? |
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Either trip serves to enhance genetic exchange among the two unique
populations of nesting endangered sea turtles. Genetic samples
analyzed by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California
will help to clarify the issue of her origin. No matter what the
outcome, the exchange is exciting, and the peculiar journey undertaken
by this individual reminds us that there are many mysteries left to unravel
regarding this magnificent and ancient species. |
