May 22, 2009
The Scanner: Sea Turtle Edition
BY: Emily Fisher
Tomorrow is World Turtle Day, which was started in 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue. The day’s purpose is “to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.” In honor of the day, today’s Scanner is, naturally, all about sea turtles. This week in ocean (er, turtle) news,…Dot Earth reported on a newly revealed trove of leatherback sea turtles on the coast of Gabon.…The design of the new Chrysler Peapod electric vehicle was released this week. The futuristic looking car, which has a smiley-face grill, was inspired by bullet trains, space helmets and yes — sea turtles. …As part of Deep Sea News’ sex week, sea turtle scientist and member of Oceana’s ocean council Wallace J. Nichols described in surprising detail the mating habits of green sea turtles. …The crew of Telefonica Black, a sail boat competing in the Volvo Ocean Race, discovered a sea turtle stuck on its keel. The turtle came unhitched and swam off, apparently uninjured….Loggerhead nesting season has officially begun on the South Carolina coast.