The Great Turtle Race is on! Starting Monday June 2nd, race fans will have a chance to choose a favorite turtle to cheer during the race at http://www.greatturtlerace.com. 11 leatherbacks have been equipped with satellite tags and are “racing” toward the International Dateline from nesting beaches in Indonesia and feeding areas along the U.S. West Coast. The position of the turtles updates every 10 minutes!
Throughout the race, viewers can follow each turtle’s journey across the Pacific and learn about the obstacles it will face along the way—fishing lines and nets, plastic bags that look like jellyfish (leatherbacks’ primary food source), and many other human-related hazards. Activities for fans include a chance to try to pick the winning turtle, sea turtle educational curriculum for teachers, interactive animations of a leatherback’s life, and other opportunities to learn more about these amazing creatures.
Carole
