158 days later, satellites received information nearly 1606 miles from the turtle’s last recorded point off the coast of Vero Beach, Florida.
Signals resumed on May 5, 2003 and continued for a number of months. “It appears that after spending time in warmer waters over the winter, the turtle made its way into the Gulf Stream,” Schofield explained.
The Gulf Stream is a warm surface ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows northeast across the Atlantic Ocean.
“This is very exciting,” Schofield said. “Relatively speaking, researchers know very little about the migratory patterns of marine animals. Nine months or more of data will give new insights and increase our knowledge.”
“Turtles, like all marine animals, face a variety of natural and man-made threats no matter where they are in the ocean,” Schofield stated.
He explained, “In the early months of the migration, when the turtle was close to land, it would have traveled through significant boat traffic, just as it was when it received its life-threatening injuries in Delaware. It was also at risk of entanglement in fishing gear like longlines and gillnets.”
“Now at sea, the turtle will eventually leave the warm waters of the Gulf Stream for cooler ocean waters. It’s possible that the animal could become cold-stunned if the temperature change is too extreme.”
By all measures, the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of this turtle have been a success. But Schofield and his team will continue to monitor the turtle’s movements closely.
“Since all sea turtles are threatened or endangered, we can make a real difference with every release,” Schofield explained.
There’s no telling the potential global impact of any single rescue - or of the journey that lies ahead for this turtle.
