The 16th edition of the Tour de Turtles is set to be an extraordinary voyage for our two female sea turtles, affectionately known as Madame Leota and Harrie. The event, organized by the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) and Disney Conservation, utilizes satellite telemetry to track the migration pathways of these two turtles. The aim is to understand their travel distances during migration season, which could provide crucial insights into the protection of their species.
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Who Will Be The Winner of the Tour de Turtles?
The journey, sponsored by the Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) and Disney Cruise Line, began yesterday morning from their nesting beaches at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. Their destination? The feeding grounds in The Bahamas, Caribbean, and beyond. Harriet and Madame Leota are competing against other sea turtles, each representing a threat to turtle survival like plastic pollution or beach lighting. The turtle that travels the furthest distance will be declared the winner of the Tour de Turtles!
Disney’s Latest Conservation Achievement
Disney’s involvement with sea turtle conservation extends beyond merely hosting the Tour de Turtles event. Over the past 20 years, our team has recorded more than 20,000 sea turtle nests on our survey route, leading to over 1.5 million sea turtle hatchlings beginning their journey in the ocean from our beaches. The year 2023 is turning out to be a record-breaking one for sea turtles along this stretch of beach – while the team usually studies around 1,500 nests from March through October, more than 2,200 nests have already been counted this year!
This significant conservation achievement has been made possible due to 20,000 hours spent surveying the five-mile stretch of beach at the Vero Beach Resort. It has allowed us to connect thousands of guests and the public with sea turtles in responsible and impactful ways. Additionally, we are part of a statewide network committed to standardized data collection and conducting innovative research to explore our relationship with sea turtles and devise the best strategies for their future protection.
As always, stay tuned to the DVC Shop blog to get all the latest developments from inside the Disney parks and around the Disney Vacation Club resorts!
Vero Beach Resort
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
