Since 2014, the young loggerhead turtle Rana was treated at the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco. On Tuesday, June 19, she returned to the sea after 4 years of care.On April 9, 2014, a young loggerhead turtle was found in hypothermia, floating on the surface, in the port of Monaco. She was then just a baby, measuring only a few centimeters and in critical condition. Brought to the oceanographic museum teams, she was taken care of and treated. Named Rana, after her godmother, a young student passionate about marine biology, this little turtle would grow and regain her strength in the museum.
4 years after her discovery in the port, Rana has grown well: 53 cm for 20 kg! She is in perfect health and can return to her natural environment. Accompanied by her godmother, Rana was transported 5 miles off the coast then released into the open sea. The turtle quickly swam away into the blue before disappearing from the caretakers’ sight.
Before the big departure, researchers from the CNRS, with the support of the Amis du musée association, equipped her shell with a GPS tracker to monitor her movements and analyze her behavior at sea. The data collected will be invaluable in better understanding the life of these marine animals.
The protection of marine turtles is at the heart of the Oceanographic Institute’s concerns, as evidenced by the care center, adjacent to the museum, currently under construction. The building will open its doors in early 2019 and will receive and care for many turtles found injured or sick on the shores, before releasing them. The very idea of this care center sprouted when Rana arrived at the museum. She has thus become a symbol and has been designated as the ambassador for the turtle cause in Monaco.
Finally, actions in favor of turtle protection are not limited to the Monegasque and French coasts. The Explorations of Monaco, passing through Cabo Verde, supported the actions of NGOs present on the island of Boa Vista and participated in programs to preserve their environment, install tags, and protect nests. In early October, while in Martinique, the Explorations will support the development of an initiative led by Ifremer: monitoring turtles during the nesting period as well as a genetic study to characterize turtle groups and their interactions worldwide.
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