Study

Survival of head-started Kep's Ridely sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) released into the Gulf of Mexico or adjacent bays

  • Published source details Caillouet Jr C.W., Fontaine C.T., Manzella-Tirpak S.A. & Shaver D. (1995) Survival of head-started Kep's Ridely sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) released into the Gulf of Mexico or adjacent bays. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 1, 285-292.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Release captive-bred reptiles into the wild: Sea turtles

Action Link
Reptile Conservation
  1. Release captive-bred reptiles into the wild: Sea turtles

    A replicated study in 1978–1993 at 13 sites on the Mexican, Texan and Floridian coasts of the Gulf of Mexico (Caillouet et al. 1995; same experimental set-up as Caillouet et al. 1995) found that following large scale releases of captive-bred yearling Kemp’s ridley turtles Lepidochelys kempii, some individuals survived and were recaptured 1–10 years after release. At least 606 turtles survived and were recaptured 1–2 years after release, and at least 59 survived and were recaptured 3–10 years after release. In 1978–1992, a total of 22,255 yearling turtles were released at 13 locations, with 197 released in Campeche, Mexico; 3,268 in west Florida, USA; and 18,174 in Texas, USA. Turtles were recaptured on an ad-hoc basis by a sea turtle stranding and salvage network and commercial or recreational fishers.

    (Summarised by: William Morgan)

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