Berlin, 14 June 2021

Satellite tracking device for turtle protection: TUI Care Foundation and Turkish non-profit organisation DEKAMER release sea turtle with satellite tracking device on World Sea Turtle Day

  • Satellite tracking device will be attached to a rehabilitated, juvenile green sea turtle to track and evaluate its migration patterns over the coming months
  • Turtle Talay will be released from DEKAMER’s Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Dalyan – the event raises awareness for turtle protection on World Sea Turtle Day
  • The joint initiative is part of the TUI Care Foundation’s Turtle Aid Programme

To celebrate World Sea Turtle Day, the TUI Care Foundation and DEKAMER are organising an event to attach a satellite tracking device to a rehabilitated green sea turtle. The event is part of the joint DEKAMER and TUI Care Foundation ‘Turtles and Tourism Together’ project, which aims to protect sea turtles on nesting beaches on the western Mediterranean coast of Turkey and also at sea. The project is part of TUI Care Foundation’s Turtle Aid Programme and will help to provide a better understanding of the migration patterns of the under-researched juvenile green sea turtle.

Sea turtles are keystone species, which means they are vital to the marine ecosystem. However, six of the seven sea turtle species are still listed as endangered and in order to protect them, it’s vital to know where they live in the sea and which migratory routes they use.         
The TUI Care Foundation and DEKAMER are working together to protect, rehabilitate and track injured sea turtles at DEKAMER’s rehabilitation centre in Dalyan, Turkey. Many of the turtles at the rescue centre have been injured by fishing activities or speed boat traffic in the sea. DEKAMER was the first turtle rescue centre established in Turkey.

This year on World Sea Turtle Day, the TUI Care Foundation and DEKAMER will attach a satellite tracking device to a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) called Talay. The name Talay means God or Goddess of Ocean and Sea in Turkish. The name is gender neutral as it is difficult to determine the sex of young turtles until they are older. Talay is between 15-20 years old and was rescued by DEKAMER after having ingested a fishing line and other plastics. Following treatment at the rescue centre for almost nine months, Talay has now recovered and is ready to head back to Mediterranean waters.  

This is the second time a satellite tracking system has been attached to a sea turtle as part of this joint initiative. In 2019, a rehabilitated adult loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) called Tuba was released by DEKAMER back into the Mediterranean Sea, with a GPS-Fix satellite tracking device. Tuba has since travelled over ten thousand kilometers across the Mediterranean Sea to the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, and her journey has been followed by nearly four and a half million people.

To raise awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species, the initiative also works to educate tourists and the local community and explain how they can help to protect turtles in Turkey. DEKAMER advises that any injured or unconscious sea turtles found in Turkey should be reported to them or to local conservation organisations and that eggs or hatchlings should not be touched. They also stress that using plastic at the beach, especially plastic bags, should be avoided, as sea turtles can sometimes confuse plastic bags with jellyfish and eat them.      
Beachfront businesses can also support conservation efforts by keeping beachfront turtle nesting zones clear of sunbeds and other obstacles, especially at night, which is when turtles lay their eggs on the beach. Avoiding the use of white light at night and using red light on nesting beaches is also important.

With the right care and consideration and by following the code of conduct on nesting beaches, the conservation of healthy ecosystems can be ensured and turtles and tourists can happily live side by side.

More about the live event on June 16th:  https://facebook.com/dekamerturkey

About TUI Care Foundation

Building on the potential of tourism as a force for good, the TUI Care Foundation supports and initiates projects which create new opportunities and contribute to thriving communities in tourism destinations all over the world. Connecting holidaymakers to good causes, it supports education and training opportunities for young people; drives the protection of natural habitats and the marine environment; and helps local communities to thrive sustainably and benefit from tourism. The TUI Care Foundation builds on strong partnerships with local and international organisations to create meaningful and long-lasting impact. The independent charitable organisation was founded by TUI, one of the world's leading tourism businesses, and is based in the Netherlands.

About DEKAMER

DEKAMER is the first Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Turkey. This centre is working as a sea turtle hospital and also be set up for year-round activity and to help educate the public about conservation efforts. DEKAMER will act as the regular monitoring of the Dalyan and nearby beaches for nesting activities by accepting volunteers from all Universities. Any injured turtles found along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey are also brought the center and will take care of their necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation. DEKAMER is open for both national and international collaborations in all types of scientific studies.