World Sea Turtle Day NightLife
July 11, 2012
By Chris Pincetich
World Sea Turtle Day commemorates the pioneering sea turtle conservation work of the late Dr. Archie Carr.
To celebrate World Sea Turtle day the California Academy of Sciences dedicated its popular Weekly NightLife event to this beloved animal. The event at the California Academy of Science, located in the city’s iconic Golden Gate Park, brought together several conservation scientists and also included a surprise visit from the infamous Mr. Leatherback, a 6-foot tall leatherback sea turtle!
Ocean biologists Dr. Wallace Nichols and Dr. Chris Pincetich kicked-off the evening with a special presentation of their nearly two decade-long research supporting turtle conservancy.
Back in 1996, Dr. Nichols affixed a satellite transmitter on a female loggerhead sea turtle in Baja, Mexico named Adelita (after the daughter of the fisherman who helped with the research). Thanks to the tracking devise, Dr. Nichols was able to show the audience how over the years Adelita masterfully swam across the Pacific, back to her nesting beach in Japan! The presentation also included recent data tracking leatherbacks swimming from nesting beaches in Indonesia to habitats off the US Pacific coast. Following Dr. Nichols’ presentation, Dr. Pincetich stepped in with a presentation on the science, advocacy, and policy projects led by the Sea Turtle Restoration Project in Cocos Island National Park, located of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and around the world.
Mr. Leatherback, the giant leatherback helped close the evening. His appearance coincided with a speech by California Democratic Assembly member Paul Fong to rally support for AB 1776, a bill written and sponsored by the Sea Turtle Restoration Project to name Pacific Leatherbacks the state’s marine reptile. If approved, this historic legislation would encourage more education, collaborative conservation partnerships, and establish a day dedicated to Pacific Leatherback Conservation Day in California. (To learn more and show your support follow these links http://seaturtles.org/article.php?id=2285 http://www.seaturtles.org/ab1776)
Events like this World Sea Turtle Day NightLife combine awareness with action and socializing with networking. These events foster hope and are critical to building the growing family of supporters for increased protection of sea turtles. For more information on the work of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project visit their website.
All photos courtesy of Deb Castellana
