CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.– On June 15, 2008 Thomas More Professor of Biology, Dr. Chris Lorentz, and two Newport Aquarium biologists: Jolene Hanna and Keri Siegert, along with a WAVE Foundation Board member, traveled to Bald Head Island, NC, to take part in the tagging of at least one loggerhead sea turtle. This is the sixth consecutive year that the WAVE Foundation at the Newport Aquarium has supported turtle conservation by tracking loggerhead sea turtles.

This year, the WAVE Foundation funded one satellite tracking device. This turtle will be tracked, via satellite, as it journeys through the Atlantic Ocean. Satellite tags last approximately 12-18 months and provide vital data to researchers about the habits of these elusive and threatened animals at sea. The turtle was tagged with the help of North Carolina Wildlife Resources, as well as staff from the Bald Head Island Conservancy and the Marine Turtle Research Group.

Scientists, like Professor Chris Lorentz, will use the data collected from the satellite tags to learn more about where these endangered sea turtles travel so organizations can better work to save them. This research is vital in the efforts to save this species from extinction.

The WAVE acronym stands for Welfare of Aquatic Animals and Natural Resources. The WAVE Foundation, designated as a 501(c) 3 organization, is the independent, educational branch of the Newport Aquarium, which was created to further efforts to educate the community about aquatic life and the conservation of natural resources and habitats.

Courtesy of Thomas More College communications.