Tahiti, January 13, 2025 – On the Tetiaroa Atoll, the green turtle nesting season continues. Since October, the Te mana o te moana association has recorded more than 300 turtle tracks, identified 17 females and indicates that nearly 1,500 baby turtles have returned to the ocean.
On the Tetiaroa atoll, the green turtle nesting season is in full swing, once again confirming the crucial role of the Te mana o te moana association in the preservation of marine biodiversity. Since October, and like every year for 18 years, observation teams from the association have been monitoring the arrival of this emblematic species to collect essential scientific data.
A promising interim report
After three months of intensive monitoring, the figures speak for themselves and the interim results of this laying season are promising. More than 300 turtle tracks have been recorded on the different motu of the atoll. During nighttime surveys, 17 females were identified, while some 130 nests were counted. A precise estimate, based on the count of empty shells found in nests, indicates that more than 1,500 emergents – these young turtles leaving their nest for the first time – have already reached the ocean.
As the 2024-2025 nesting season ends in April, these first results already offer a good perspective on the final figures. Last year, Te mana o te moana had a season “eexceptional” with 1,400 turtle hatchings recorded and 441 nests found. In total, the association estimated that 34,980 baby turtles were born on the atoll.
Sustainable scientific cooperation
These observations are part of a scientific study supported by the Environment Department of French Polynesia but also with the long-standing support and involvement of The Brando hotel and the Tetiaroa Society. Especially since after twenty years of existence, the association now wishes to expand its field of action by turning towards innovation. “We want to accelerate our analyses, in particular thanks to satellite monitoring to better understand their migrations but also acoustic beacons and on-board cameras,” Cécile Gaspar announced last December. Furthermore, Te mana o te moana is currently developing the program “Impacs”, funded by the European Union, to replicate its model for studying turtles in Tetiaroa on the beaches of Wallis and Futuna.
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