We are currently tracking 3 Leatherback sea turtles from the beaches of Florida USA. Please check back soon.
How this Works
We use a bit of data manipulation, science, and technology. It is not easy to follow a sea turtle as it roams the oceans, but each year the technology gets better and better.
It starts with an expensive piece of gear called a "PTT"
Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs) are small, battery powered devices that are most often attached to the carapace of a sea turtle. These can be attached with epoxy to hard shelled turtles like loggerheads and green sea turtles or via a simple direct attachment for leatherback sea turtles. The PTT collects data and then sends regular updates to the Argos equipped satellites each time the turtle surfaces for air. After a period of time the batteries are exhausted, and the transmitter stops working and falls off the turtle or is removed by researchers when the turtle is encountered again.
Data from the turtles are relayed to satellites flying high overhead.
The Argos system is a satellite-based location estimation and data collection system. Researchers place small devices onto sea turtles that collect and transmit data to an Argos-equipped constellation of satellites. The Argos system receives data from a PTT and then uses a special algorithm to estimate its location at the time of transmission based on the Doppler shift of the signal frequency received during the passing of one of the polar-orbiting satellites. More information about Argos can be found here
Researchers share their data with us and our system processes data as it is received from the Argos system
Our Partners
TrackTurtles.com is a website designed by the volunteer group Florida Leatherbacks Inc. (FLI)
FLI conducts research on endangered leatherback sea turtles in Martin County, Florida USA. Each summer FLI tracks leatherbacks from the nesting beach.
Some data presented here are provided by our data partner - Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Adopt a tracked turtle
You can support research on these amazing animals by "adopting" a tracked turtle today. 100% of donated funds are used to purchase satellite transmitters, tracking fees and website costs.
- All species
- Leatherback
- Loggerhead
- Green turtle
Get In Touch
Would you like to see your turtles on this site, or have a question about how it all works? Let us know!
Contact Info
Location
3330 Fairchild Gardens Ave. #31061 Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410
Phone
+01 (561) 318-3550