In a joint venture between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW), The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth (NMMU) and Marine and Coastal Management, three Leatherback turtles were recently attached with satellite transmitters and are currently being monitored as they make their way towards the Cape.
The ideal when attaching transmitters is to find a female laying her eggs. During this time, the animal goes into a trance-like state and it’s possible to approach her without resistance. But finding the animal at exactly the ideal time is harder than it sounds, says Gaisford, who drove the project team during their turtle hunts.
