Tinker Bell and Marina, our sea turtles who crawled out of the ocean to nest with only the starry skies to light their way, are now the proud moms of 137 hatchlings that just emerged from the sand near Disney’s Vero Beach Resort!
While waiting for their nests to hatch, we have been following Tink and Marina on their ocean adventures as they take part in the Tour de Turtles! In the time it took for the eggs to hatch, Tinker Bell and Marina have each swum around 1,000 miles and are enjoying a tasty buffet fit for turtles in the Bahamas and near Cuba! They will keep eating and swimming … and swimming and eating … until they are ready to return to lay more eggs in 2017!
Until she returns to nest again, Marina will continue to be our turtle ambassador, reminding us of how important it is to keep our beaches and oceans free of plastic debris that could be ingested by turtles. You can join us and do your part in helping keep beaches and waterways free of litter. All waterways lead to the ocean, so you can help sea turtles no matter where you live!
Our other turtle ambassador Tinker Bell has been spreading her pixie dust to remind us that sea turtles need dark beaches to successfully lay their eggs. When those little hatchlings emerge from the nest, they find their way to the ocean by following the brightest light they can see in the star-filled skies.
We were very happy to see those tiny turtle tracks from Tinker Bell’s and Marina’s nests heading straight to the ocean!
It will take 30 years for these tiny turtles to grow to adult size and return to Disney’s Vero Beach to start their own families! Until then, we will continue to protect the magic of nature by keeping our beaches and oceans safe for sea turtles!
Disney’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program is so important to us, and we are delighted when we are recognized for our accomplishments. Recently, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums presented us with the 2015 Significant Achievement in North American Conservation Award.
The North American Conservation Award recognizes outstanding achievement in habitat and species restoration that supports biodiversity conservation. From supporting sea turtle conservation efforts through the Disney Conservation Fund, to rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles, to on-the-ground field research and providing experiences to engage our guests with sea turtles, Disney is committed to the conservation of sea turtles and inspiring everyone to care about these amazing animals!
Stay on the lookout for upcoming posts, as the sea turtle nesting season is winding down. We will bring you a summary of how the turtles did this year at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.
Comments
Congratulations on the award and I am looking forward to future updates on how the sea turtles did. Please keep up the good work and thank you for all that you do.
Thank you, Robert! The nesting season is almost over, and once we pull all of our data together, we will share a recap with you in an upcoming Wildlife Wednesday article.
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