The Great Turtle Race

Eleven Leatherback turtles will race from Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands in an event designed to raise awareness and money for the endangered species.

Starting today, you can go to http://www.greatturtlerace.com/ and vote for your favorite turtle. When the race begins on April 16, you can track your turtle’s journey and learn about the many obstacles it will face along the way.

Each of the turtles has been equipped with satellite tags. When they leave their nesting areas in Costa Rica, they will be tracked as they make their way to their feeding grounds near the Galapagos Islands. Every few minutes, when the Leatherbacks surface to breathe, the satellite tags will transmit data about the turtle’s location, water temperature and other information.

Click here to learn more about the race and vote for your turtle.