Yoshi becomes ‘discoverer and lead scientist’
BELOVED Two Oceans Aquarium former resident Yoshi the loggerhead turtle has added the title of discoverer and lead scientist to her list of achievements, after she guided Australian scientists to a previously unknown loggerhead foraging site off Western Australia.
Yoshi was released back into the wild more than 2 years ago and has travelled more than 37 000km so far, along the way garnering the attention of Australian researchers.
Two Oceans Aquarium chief executive Maryke Musson said a team from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in Western Australia headed to Port Samson earlier in the week hoping that they could re-tag the turtle.
“On arrival the sea conditions were great and they picked up Yoshi’s satellite signals.
“Dr Scott Whiting knew it was going to be a bit of a ‘needle in a haystack’ search – but what they did not realise was that they were going to find a whole lot of other needles in that haystack.
“They did not expect to find 40 other loggerhead turtles in the most ideal feeding ground.
“They could hear Yoshi’s ‘ping’, but unfortunately never caught sight of her.”
Musson said the researchers found numerous loggerhead turtles, ranging from juveniles to adults.
“This high density of loggerheads indicated that Yoshi found a great foraging site, which seems to be an ideal loggerhead habitat and she found herself with many members of her species – so she is not alone.
“At the time her location was quite remote with very little boat traffic, and thus a very safe area for sea turtles,” Musson said.
Whiting said: “We did not know of any high-quality loggerhead foraging habitats in Western Australia that supported high densities of turtles. Yoshi has shown us one of these locations and it is possible that further searches of the region could present more.”
She has moved towards Port Hedland over the last few days and finds herself between the mainland and Little Turtle Islet in wonderful 32°C water and a gentle south-west current.
Yoshi has covered about 300km in the last two weeks along the Western Australian coast, so has slowed down her average daily distance travelled as she enjoys exploring and foraging with friends.