Coronita

Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) 2004: Loggerhead Turtles

A project of Marine Turtle Research Group.

click map for full-size version There are a variety of reasons why a turtles transmitter will stop working (see our FAQ section for some reasons) but we suspect that she may have damaged her transmitter to the point where it was not able to transmit further. For example, look at the damage Cretcheu was able to do to her transmitter in just 2 weeks. There are lots of rocky caves and crevices in the waters off Boavista and we think that the waters off Mauritania and Senegal, where Coronita was last recorded, may be similar. Turtles are able to do great damage to their transmitters by scratching their carapaces on rocks underwater.

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Species: Loggerhead
Life Stage: Adult
Gender: Female
Release Date: 2004-08-18 23:40:00
Release Location: Boavista, Cape Verde
Last Location: 2004-11-04 11:36:18

Background

"Coronita" nested on Ervatao beach, Boavista on the night of the 18th August. She is the 9th turtle to be deployed with a satellite transmitter in this study. She last nested in 2001 when she was weighed in at 140lbs and was named after the project monitor who attached her transmitter. Coronita laid 4 clutches of eggs on Boavista this year, laying her last on the 9th October before leaving for easterly waters. She swam over 500km to the western coast of Africa, foraging on the rich waters from the African coastal currents. Her transmitter ceased to send messages on the 4th November.