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.
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.
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!
The sea turtles, named Madame Leota and Harriet, are equipped with satellite telemetry to help researchers track where and how far they swim during the migration season, Disney said in a news release. The turtle to swim the furthest wins the Tour de Turtles race. pic.twitter.com/jl6W8ffVtE
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) July 29, 2023
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??