Leatherback sea turtles, the largest of all sea turtles, are known for their incredible migratory journeys. Fewer of them make those journeys as the years pass, which The Leatherback Trust is trying to change.

Eastern Pacific leatherback turtles are critically endangered, with a population that has declined by more than 98% since 1990. The Trust works to reverse that trend by tackling the five most deadly threats to leatherbacks and other sea turtles around the world: development, fishing, nest disturbance, pollution, and climate change.

Their scientists conduct research at nesting beaches and at sea, collecting critical data to support conservation interventions. That's where SAS came in on this project, turning that data into visualizations that the Trust can share with educators to grow awareness about their mission, as well as help with fundraising.

The SAS team started with a set of research data tracking the positions of leatherback turtles with satellite tracking devices off the coast of South Africa in 2012 and 2013. The team used the raw data to create accurate simulations of the full paths taken by the turtles.

On the map above, you'll see the paths of 14 turtles found nesting in South Africa. Each was given a South African girl's name. They each went in different directions and seemed to have their own travel plans. Ever wonder what kind of path you'd take if you were a turtle, based on your (human) travel style? Take the quiz below to find out!

Leatherback turtles migrate vast distances across the oceans, driven primarily by the search for their favorite prey, jellyfish, which are abundant in certain regions. Their migration patterns are also influenced by ocean currents and water temperatures, as they seek out optimal conditions for feeding and breeding.

Use the tabs below to explore the actual migration paths of some leatherback turtles. How does your "turtle twin" compare to the others? Was she chasing warmth, floating along, looking for food or going for distance? Once you find your turtle, hover over the map for extra information or watch her swim in the animation!

The tracking data visualized above shows a wide variety of migratory paths. Some traveled a great distance, some swam against the current, while others stayed close to their nesting beach. A relatable variety, right?

Protecting leatherback turtles is crucial for maintaining the health of our oceans. That's why the SAS volunteers went beyond the initial ask to add more data about ocean conditions to account for the influence of the water’s currents on the turtles' travels.

The result was able to simulate turtle paths absent of ocean currents, or as if the turtles are swimming in a motionless ocean, which helps better understand turtle swimming behavior.

This research brings together several novel data science methods that both SAS and The Leatherback Trust hope will empower field researchers and data scientists to think holistically about data measurement in the field, and drive interest in seeking beneficial applications that can positively affect leatherback turtles and other marine biology research.

ABOUT THE LEATHERBACK TRUST

The mission of The Leatherback Trust is to protect leatherback turtles, other endangered sea turtles, freshwater turtles and their ecosystems through conservation, research, management and education.

The Leatherback Trust partners with Global Cause, a nonprofit focused on saving endangered species including giant pandas in the wild and leatherback sea turtles.

Global Cause supports innovative sea turtle research, the professional development of young scientists working on sea turtle conservation, and related educational efforts to build public awareness and support for these conservation efforts.