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Disney is Tracking and Racing Turtles Again

disney conservation fund tour de turtles sea turtles race at vero beach resort disney world wildlife species
Credit: Disney

Marking its 16th year running (or should I say swimming?) Disney Conservation Fund, in association with researchers from the Sea Turtle Conservatory, released two lucky sea turtles into the ocean for migration season. It’s ‘Tour de Turtles’ 2023 baby! This year’s stars are named Madame Leota and Harriet.

Taking place at the Vero Beach Resort, Tour de Turtles is an annual event aiming to promote conservation efforts for sea turtles. Satellite transponders on the turtles’ shells track their migration patterns and raise awareness about the threats they face. Once tagged and released, the sea turtles provide valuable data on their movements, feeding habits, and breeding patterns.

disney conservation fund tour de turtles sea turtles race at vero beach resort disney world wildlife species

Credit: Disney

While scientists and researchers gain insights to help develop conservation strategies, people of all ages learn about the importance of turtles within marine ecosystems. Tour de Turtles raises public awareness by allowing participation online and on-site that follows the progress of the tracked turtles.

This year, Madame Leota and Harriet will help highlight environmental issues, encouraging individuals and communities to take action to protect their endangered species and their habitats. The Disney Conservation Fund provides grants to organizations working on sea turtle conservation, helping to fund research, protection programs, and community engagement initiatives.

disney conservation fund tour de turtles sea turtles race at vero beach resort disney world wildlife species

Credit: Disney

During this “migration marathon,” a Disney news release stated that the Tour de Turtles “researchers track where and how far [the turtles] swim during the migration season.” Apparently, “the turtle to swim the furthest wins the Tour de Turtles race!” Vero Beach Resort Guests watched as Madame Leota and Harriet were released back into the Atlantic Ocean today and rooted on their favorite to win in overall mileage.

Check out the video below!

Vice president of Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, Mark Penning, told ClickOrlando, “Disney’s commitment to sea turtle conservation in Vero Beach spans 20 years, and we are very proud to have recently watched our 1.5 millionth sea turtle hatchling leave the nest and shuffle its way to the ocean!”

Is your money on Madame Leota or Harriet to swim the farthest??

About Lana Porter

Lana has never lost a Disney Trivia night. Maybe it’s the hundreds of times she’s been to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, her love for Disney’s ’90’s era hand-animated musicals, or the fact that she’s often likened to cartoon characters, but Disney and its magic have a special place in her heart. Her favorite Disney experiences include the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, eating Mickey Bars on the PeopleMover, and crying during the Magic Kingdom fireworks show. One day she hopes to be chosen as the rebel spy on Star Tours. When Lana isn’t Park Hopping, she’s at home reading books of all topics, watching her favs on Disney+, or snuggling her two cats, which she swears are not named after Disney characters. She loves surprising people with her knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but admits she is still catching up with Star Wars. She is happy to combine her excitement for writing with her love for Disney-style storytelling and share what she can with the world!