On Tetiaroa atoll, since 2007, Te mana o te moana teams in collaboration with the Direction of the Environment of French Polynesia (DIREN) have been carrying out a scientific study on green sea turtle nesting sites. Over the past 14 years, more than 3,155 nests and 254 females have been observed. In total, it is estimated that 250,000 hatchlings were born on the atoll since the start of this study.
The 2021-2022 nesting season started last October and is currently in full swing: 140 nests have already been spotted and 37 females have been identified. Of these 140 nests, 8 have already hatched.
When hatchlings are too weak to reach the sea, they are taken care of by our on-site teams and transferred to the Moorea Sea turtle care center with DIREN agreement. This is the case for many emerging turtles welcomed during the 2020-2021 season who were released at about 6 months of age.
Since 2007, more than 2,500 emergents blocked by roots, pieces of coral or too weakened have been manually taken out of the nest to give them a second chance at life!
* Project implemented with the authorization and the support of Direction de l’Environnement Polynésie Française
Partners: The Brando, Hinerava, Vilebrequin, IFBD, Air Tahiti Nui, Tetiaroa Society, Van Oord, ESRI, David Hetterman et Sven Lindblad
