Spring Break
Drexel works to save Leatherbacks
Marshall Fleming
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Even though the NCAA swimming and diving season may be over, University students can still cheer on the Dragon in one last marathon swimming event. The only difference is that this time the Dragon is a turtle.
Drexelina, a leatherback sea turtle representing Drexel University, is one of 11 competitors in The Great Turtle Race. The race, which covers over 500 miles of ocean, goes from the west coast of Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands where the turtles will lay their eggs.
"This is the first year that it has run. I hope that the race continues [in subsequent years] and I think it's something that has brought Drexel great PR," Dr. James Spotila said, of the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology at Drexel, and chairman of the Leatherback Task Force.
The purpose of the Leatherback Task Force is to "bring together experts on the leatherback turtle to provide information and advice to the [Marine Turtle Specialist Group]," according to the organization's website.
The race has brought in sponsors including Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, Yahoo.com and Travelocity.com Colbert, who named his turtle Stephanie Colburtle in honor of himself, has mentioned the event as well as Drexel University for getting him involved several times on his show.
As of Thursday evening, Drexelina is in 10th place of the eleven participants, needing to still travel 508 miles to the finish. The leader is Billie, a turtle representing the Offield Center for Billfish studies. Colbert's turtle is in a close second only 29 miles behind.
One of the biggest dangers that the turtles will face comes from humans.
"Probably the biggest danger is running past fishing. Over 60 percent of the leather backs in the Pacific Ocean get hooked by a long line every year. So, about 20 percent a year are killed [by fishing equipment]," said Spotila.
Times have become so bad for the leatherbacks that since 1988, the number of turtle species nesting has decreased from 1,500 turtles to estimates of about 50 to 100.
"The thing that's important to realize is that Drexel has played the biggest part in keeping it from going extinct. Without Drexel, these turtles would have been extinct already," Spotila said.
Drexelina, a leatherback sea turtle representing Drexel University, is one of 11 competitors in The Great Turtle Race. The race, which covers over 500 miles of ocean, goes from the west coast of Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands where the turtles will lay their eggs.
"This is the first year that it has run. I hope that the race continues [in subsequent years] and I think it's something that has brought Drexel great PR," Dr. James Spotila said, of the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology at Drexel, and chairman of the Leatherback Task Force.
The purpose of the Leatherback Task Force is to "bring together experts on the leatherback turtle to provide information and advice to the [Marine Turtle Specialist Group]," according to the organization's website.
The race has brought in sponsors including Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, Yahoo.com and Travelocity.com Colbert, who named his turtle Stephanie Colburtle in honor of himself, has mentioned the event as well as Drexel University for getting him involved several times on his show.
As of Thursday evening, Drexelina is in 10th place of the eleven participants, needing to still travel 508 miles to the finish. The leader is Billie, a turtle representing the Offield Center for Billfish studies. Colbert's turtle is in a close second only 29 miles behind.
One of the biggest dangers that the turtles will face comes from humans.
"Probably the biggest danger is running past fishing. Over 60 percent of the leather backs in the Pacific Ocean get hooked by a long line every year. So, about 20 percent a year are killed [by fishing equipment]," said Spotila.
Times have become so bad for the leatherbacks that since 1988, the number of turtle species nesting has decreased from 1,500 turtles to estimates of about 50 to 100.
"The thing that's important to realize is that Drexel has played the biggest part in keeping it from going extinct. Without Drexel, these turtles would have been extinct already," Spotila said.
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