Trinidad's Leatherback Sea Turtles

In 2013 we took our third  trip to Matura, Trinidad to assist with the tagging and measuring of the leatherback sea turtle.  We were there at the peak of the nesting season.  We saw many mother turtles laying eggs and also saw many hatchlings.  We spent two weeks assisting the Nature Seekers with nocturnal beach patrols, tagging of  nesting turtles, collection of morphometric information (size and shape measurements), assessment of population trends and behavioral patterns, supervision of ecotourism, and education of the public.  

"I'm doing research with a professor on reproductive and developmental factors of painted turtles! She didn't have any spots left on her team, but I sent her an email about what we had done in Trinidad and she is going to make an exception :)  I just wanted to thank you again for having me come with you again this summer!  It's been a life changing trip every time!"  Erin P. (student; Trinidad 2010, 2011, 2013)