Latest news with #Leatherback
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
From Jekyll to Wassaw to Tybee, sea turtle experiences in Georgia and education await
Requiem's flapping flippers almost sounded like bird wings fluttering as Morgan Flannagan, a Georgia Sea Turtle Center hospital technician, pulled the green sea turtle from a rehabilitation tank. Flannagan dried the turtle off and took it inside to the center's hospital room. 'Sea turtles don't have health insurance,' said Michelle Kaylor, the Jekyll Island center's director. She and a crowd of center visitors watched Requiem through the hospital room's public observation window as the endangered turtle was fitted with a microchip on June 6. The turtle, whose sex is not known, was nearly ready to be returned to the ocean since arriving May 3 with a large J hook embedded in its esophagus. Kaylor said Loggerhead and Green Sea turtles account for most of the center's patients, many of which have suffered human-caused injuries. In addition to sea turtles, people bring other wildlife in need of triage to the center. Situations could also involve diamondback terrapins as well as birds such as eagles. Sea turtle cases can come from off the coast of Georgia's 15 barrier islands or as far north as the Massachusetts. Some turtles that travel to the Cape Cod area can get cold-stunned because they get stuck in bay due to the land mass shape and, since they cannot internally regulate their body temperature, become hypothermic. Such situations come to the New England Aquarium, Kaylor said. 'They'll triage them, take them in, and then they, with NOAA, coordinate sending them out to different facilities throughout the U.S.,' she said. Providing emergency and rehabilitation care for Loggerheads, Kemps Ridley, Leatherback and Green sea turtles is merely one element in a series of decades-long conservation efforts made by the center and other organizations within the Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative, which is coordinated in part by Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Conservation Section Sea Turtle Program Coordinator Mark Dodd. Dodd said some conversation efforts started as far back as the late-1960s under former University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology Professor Jim Richardson, who retired in 2016. His research on shrimping trawls leading to stranded sea turtles helped lead to federal protection. He was also instrumental in the early expansion of the use of TEDs or turtle excluder devices, which prevent turtles from becoming ensnared in shrimping and fishing nets. Throughout coastal Georgia, multiple organizations afford turtle enthusiasts to learn such tidbits and more through educational and experiential opportunities. Home Free: Mystic Aquarium released 22 rehabilitated sea turtles back into the wild on Jekyll Island Pump the brakes: Marine Science Center reminds drivers to slow down for terrapin crossings In addition to the hospital viewing room and the ability to observe turtles in the rehabilitation pavilion, the center offers interactive educational activities. It also features a full scale replica of a prehistoric sea turtle in its gift shop. Proceeds from the shop and admissions tickets help fund the center and its programs. The center has rehabilitated and released nearly 750 sea turtles since it opened in 2007. Where: 214 Stable Road, Jekyll Island, Georgia Cost: $9 for ages 4-12, $11 for teens and adults. Yearly supporter membership options are offered as well as group rates. Website: The Caretta Research Project is not a facility. Education and Outreach Coordinator Kristen Zemaitis said its unique program is volunteer operated. People pay to stay on the Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge for week. On any given week of the program, six volunteers and two biologists collect data for research. "Everyone who comes out there during the summer learns firsthand what it's like to be a biologist, what it is that these turtles need," Zemaitis said. Roughly 100 people can access the experience each summer, and about 40% of them are returner volunteers who share their experience with others and wind up bringing folks back with them. "We've had people from six countries and all 50 states," she said. Caretta also partners with schools to bring sea turtle education into the classroom. All the organization's efforts serve its mission "to ensure the long-term protection and full recovery of the Northwest Atlantic loggerhead population and the ecological roles that it plays through research, conservation and education.' Where: offices located in Savannah, but sea turtle research and protection activities occur on Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge Cost: ranges from $950 to $1,100 per person per week depending on time of registration Website: Tybee Island Marine Science Center's Veterinary Tech Sarah Alley and others offer educational programming for locals and tourists alike. The center's biologists and approved volunteers also actively track and relocate turtle nests on the island, which are up to eight as of June 13. Much like the Sea Turtle Center, the science center on Tybee addresses the needs of and educates the public about more than Loggerheads and Leatherbacks. The public can learn about bird migrations and about wildlife such as horseshoe crabs, sea gulls, diamondback terrapin and more. Tybee's center offers year-round walks on the beaches and in the marshes. It also often shows local artists' works in its Coastal Galleries such as Cat Ward's "Deep Dive" installation. Reach out to see how you might be able to assist with ongoing conservation and research initiatives on Tybee and Little Tybee Islands. Where: 37 Meddin Drive, Tybee Island, Georgia Cost: 4 and under are free while children 5-12, seniors and military personnel pay $12, regular admission is $15 Website: Dodd said all the sea turtle conservation efforts across the state aim to to restore turtles to a "viable population that's fulfilling its role in the ecosystem." He said in some ways the population is getting to that point, noting a recent situation at the Jekyll center where a gravid female had to be euthanized. The turtle was brought in because it was missing significant portions of its front flippers. Unlike Requiem, though, the other turtle's injuries weren't caused by humans. Biologists determine that it had been bitten by a shark. In a way, the biologists let natural selection take its course since the turtle could no longer swim or feed. Dodd said getting ever closer to that viable population would mean humans can start to scale back their interventions while continuing to innovate elements such as the TEDs. Zemaitis said full recovery to the Caretta Project refers to "full recovery of the entire North Atlantic recovery unit." She said while Georgia and and Florida may appear to have huge spokes in nesting, challenges could still be facing turtles on the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina. Cape Romain, South Carolina, for example, typically sees 1000s of Loggerhead nests, the largest amount outside of Florida. "It is now almost completely inundated at high tide due to sea level rise, and their dunes have been flattened from hurricanes," she said. Over 98% of this year's sea turtle nests in Georgia belong to the Loggerhead species. Six are Green Sea Turtle nests and four are unknown. While Greens and Leatherbacks are commonly spotted foraging off the Georgia coast, they tend to nest elsewhere. Dodd expects this to be an average year, in relation to the last decade's worth of counts, with around 2,500 nests. DNR logged the most nests in a single year back in 2022 with over 4,000 documented throughout the state. When Dodd started at DNR in 1999 the Collective was tracking roughly 1,500 nests a year. Dodd said macro data implies turtles nest about every two to three years, so its not surprising the numbers are average this year. DNR knows this because, every year, the contents of a single egg from each found nest is sent to DNR and University of Georgia (UGA) Senior Research Scientist Brian Shamblin for maternal DNA analysis. All member organizations of the state's Sea Turtle Cooperative contribute to the DNA collection, which now has decades of data that can pinpoint nesting habits of individual turtles, some of which are are 70+ years old. He said while the statistics are complicated, DNR believes it has identified a grandmother Loggerhead. 'So that's a female that's over 100 that is still reproductively active,' he said. Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@ and JoeInTheKnow_SMN on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Sea turtle conservation in Georgia has been decades in the making
Muscat Daily
18-06-2025
- Muscat Daily
Green Turtles at Ras al Jinz
Sur – A fortunate few may witness the celestial waltz of the soft-hued rising sun, the effervescence of the ocean, and wet ochre sands – all in one frame – at 4am at Raz al Jinz beach, around 60km from Sur city, the capital of Sharqiyah South Governorate. The hour before dawn is said to be sacred in many cultures. As I stood at the edge of that sleepy beach, I imagined how our ancestors, the early risers, must have felt at this hour. Empty roads behind us, dark clouds above, as faint rays of silver sunlight begin to peek through the rugged mountains. Cold mist from the sea kissed the sands, and silence echoed through every wave that hit the shore. Each step was slow, pulled lovingly but stubbornly by thick wet silica, drawing our bodies into the beach as if to keep us grounded to its ancient memory. Then came a shiver. Gentle, soft, but unmistakable. The sand trembled faintly beneath our feet. And from this trembling earth emerged a pair of eyes -sleepy, curious and wise. A mother green turtle! She must have weighed close to 100kg. As brightening sunlight played spoilsport, revealing her secret nest as well as those of many other turtles in the vicinity of the beach, it was, probably, time for her to leave. Her work was done and the sea beckoned her back into its salty embrace. These magnificent creatures – green turtles – are a treasure of Oman, and Ras Al Jinz is among the most sacred places to witness their story. Located near Ras Al Hadd, near Sur (around 250km from Muscat), this protected reserve is the only proclaimed nesting ground for turtles in the country. Other beaches along its 45km stretch are closed between 5pm and 5am, ensuring that nature remains undisturbed when the turtles crawl ashore under the moonlight. Guided tours at sunrise and sunset allow visitors to witness this ancient ritual. The nesting turtles, aged between 30 to 40 years and weighing up to 120kg, return to the same shores to lay their eggs (around 100 at a time) several times a season. Afterward, they migrate across oceans, only to return again to this exact stretch of sand, led by memory and instinct. A short drive away is the serene Turtle Beach Resort, a haven for tourists -international and domestic – who seek a retreat far from the chaos of modern life. This is one explicit activity which people from around the world flock to witness from June to September when the green turtles – an endangered species – come ashore to lay their eggs (around 10,000 – 13,000 each season). Visitors are offered a chance to witness the turtles laying eggs during the wee hours while some may even be lucky to spot other species of turtles that pass by, including the Loggerhead, Leatherback, Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtle. They also have the option of either staying in the facility at the reserve or in nearby hotels in Sur. Turtle Beach Resort is a traditional Omani resort with a makeshift dhow overlooking the Arabian Sea, celebrating local culture and hospitality. With 54 rooms, it offers direct access to the beach, and has a swimming pool, BBQ areas, a basketball court, and a warm communal space. By 10 pm, lights go off, leaving the stars to light up not just the sky, but also the soul. The resort is also deeply committed to turtle conservation. As Ankit Kushwah, the operations supervisor, explained, 'We actively monitor nesting sites, conduct beach clean-ups, and educate our guests about marine conservation. If we find an injured turtle, we immediately contact Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve to ensure proper care and rehabilitation.' He also disclosed that, though the nesting season is from June to October, tourists arrive all through the year, especially those from Italy, Germany, France, Russia, the UK come from October to April when the weather cools off. As evening fades, guests retire early, setting alarms for the appointed hour – 4 am – when the cool sands come alive again. We tread softly across the beach, our feet brushing against ancient shells. A sudden poke from a millennia-old remnant nudges my toe, but I hold back a gasp. I do not want to disturb the nesting turtles. From the shifting granules of sand, a turtle emerges slowly, steadily, her heavy form moving with the rhythm of time. As she flips each thick flipper, each movement altering the shade of the sand around her. This is her fleeting moments before she returns to the ocean. I crouch quietly, and beneath her I glimpse the gelatinous, golden eggs – her pride and legacy. I raise my camera, eager to freeze the miracle. But something within me did not let the shutter click. I let her moment live, unframed. With great effort, she begins her journey back. There's a struggle – sand below, wind above – but she continues. Our guide, Syed, watches with a soft smile. He has been witnessing these spectacular 'ladies' for decades and knows well how they travel back safely. We all hold our breath. She looks back once, then onward she crawls, pulling her weight across the shore. She is returning to the ocean, to her family. Perhaps her mate waits patiently beyond or beneath those salty waves. Maybe, he is wary of her safety. She comes bearing a promise that their children will soon meet him in the vast embrace of the ocean. Somewhere, beneath the blue surface, love and rest awaits her.
Business Insider
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Unifying the world's 180 currencies: Meet the people driving Leatherback's resurgence
In line with its mission to transform global financial access for Africans and businesses at home and in the diaspora, Leatherback, a leading cross-border payment platform, has announced the appointment of four key executives to its leadership team. This development ushers in a new era of stability and growth for the company as it strengthens its approach to simplify and scale cross-border payments on the continent and across the world. Founded in 2019, Leatherback set out to unify the world's 180 currencies through an array of customer-centric product offerings that offer users seamless transaction experiences across multiple currencies and borders. Now, as the company expands to new markets and introduces exciting new features that bring it closer to this future, these appointments provide the leadership, network and core competencies required to access new opportunities, drive innovation, and reinforce stakeholder confidence. Ochebhoya Ekpete named Managing Director Ochebhoya Ekpete has been appointed Managing Director of Leatherback, UK- subject to regulatory approval. Taking over from the outgoing interim CEO. With over 15 years of experience in financial leadership, transformation, and governance, he brings a wealth of knowledge across fintech, payments, and multinational operations. He has held leadership roles at Cellulant, Interswitch, and Stripe where he focused on global financial strategy, commercial pricing, and treasury operations. At Leatherback, he will lead the team in strengthening financial controls, improving operational efficiency, and supporting the company's long-term financial objectives. Commenting on his appointment, Ekpete said 'As key players in the global financial space, Leatherback is playing a critical role in ensuring that challenges surrounding seamless cross border payments and transactions are a thing of the past. We are not just building reliable payment solutions, we're also opening doors to global possibilities for individuals and businesses. I am honoured to be coming onboard at this time and I look forward to working with the incredible team to scale our impact.' Usman Amusat joins as VP Product and Operations Usman Amusat has joined Leatherback as Vice President of Product and Operations, bringing with him years of experience building user-centric products across fintech, digital banking, and identity systems. With a reputation for his hands-on leadership style and passion for product innovation, Usman has led growth and product strategy at leading African tech firms including Flutterwave, Smile Identity, and most recently, Dot, where he served as Chief Product Officer. At Leatherback, Usman will play a key role in driving product development, operational excellence, and market expansion. His deep expertise in user experience design, strategic growth, and cross-functional execution aligns seamlessly with Leatherback's mission to simplify global payments and unify the world's currencies. Mayowa Afe-Ogundele joins as Chief Technology Officer Leading the charge at Leatherback's technology team, is Mayowa Afe-Ogundele who joins as Chief Technology Officer, bringing with him a wealth of experience in building secure, scalable, and compliant financial systems. His expertise spans digital payments, systems architecture, infrastructure, and emerging technologies such as blockchain. At Leatherback, he will oversee the company's technology strategy and infrastructure development. Speaking at an executive management meeting, Afe-Ogundele said, 'I am excited to join Leatherback at such a critical point in our journey. I particularly look forward to strengthening our core infrastructure as we advance in our mission to scale cross-border payments across the world.' Oreoluwa Ajayi resumes as Head, Sales (Digital Ecosystems) Also joining the Leatherback executive management team is Oreoluwa Ajayi, a seasoned financial services expert with over 13 years of experience in business transformation, growth strategy, and customer engagement across the fintech and digital services industries. She previously worked at Interswitch, Migo, and Prembly as Head of Commercials, where she led expert teams to drive market penetration, business expansion and revenue generation. At Leatherback, Oreoluwa will be responsible for leading sales strategy, expanding business opportunities, and strengthening customer relationships. Globally, challenges with interoperability and compliance bottlenecks still limit the efficacy of cross-border payments systems and processes. By building a platform that supports multi-currency wallets, instant transfers, and regulatory-compliant infrastructure, Leatherback continues to simplify these processes and enable financial inclusion through frictionless, inclusive, and affordable cross-border payment services. With these appointments, Leatherback has reaffirmed its commitment to excellence, transparency, and innovation. As the company scales its offerings across Africa, the UK, North America, and emerging markets, its new team of seasoned financial powerhouses will be instrumental in driving its mission with a renewed sense of purpose. Founded in 2019, Leatherback is a UK-licensed cross-border payments platform that enables users in Africa and across the world to transact seamlessly in multiple currencies. Leatherback simplifies remittance, supports business expansion, and unlocks opportunities for users across over 15 countries.
