7 September 2006
Satellite transmitters installed on marine turtles

In order to monitor the movement pattern of marine turtles, WWF – Pakistan, the largest conservation NGO in the country, in collaboration with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and the Sindh Wildlife Department, installed a satellite transmitter on a marine turtle at Sandspit, Karachi coast on Thursday, 7th September, 2006. Mr. Majid Ali Al-Mansouri, Secretary General, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

Marine Turtles are globally endangered species. However, two species namely Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys Olivacea) nest in Pakistan. Normally, the nesting season of marine turtles along the Pakistan coast starts every year from August and it lasts till January.

The transmitter, installed on the carapace of the marine turtle for satellite tracking, would help in getting information about post nesting migration patterns of the turtles, their foraging area, the time spent for foraging and the resting distance covered per day. The location data will be received through ARGOS, a satellite based data system. It will also help in obtaining the data about biological characteristics and general behaviour of the marine species. Another transmitter will be installed on another turtle on Friday night. The two transmitters have been provided by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. The organisation has also provided training to WWF – Pakistan’s staff at their centre in Abu Dhabi on satellite telemetry of marine turtles.

Welcome address was delivered by Mr. Ali Hassan Habib, Director General, WWF-Pakistan which was followed by a presentation about WWF-P’s conservation initiatives including those taken in order to protect marine turtles by Dr. Ejaz Ahmad, Deputy Director General, WWF-Pakistan. Moreover, the representative of Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) also gave a presentation on Marine Turtle Conservation Programme being carried out by the organisation. Dr. Zhabit from Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi gave a presentation about Marine Programme of his organisation. Furthermore, Brigadier (Retd.) Mukhtar Ahmed conveyed vote of thanks to the honourable Chief Guest. In the end, the participants were also taken to a boat ride in the backwater channel of the area.

For further information:
Abdul Karim Gabol,
Communications Officer-Sindh
Phone: 4544791, 4544792.
Email: gabolwwf@yahoo.com