SATELLITE TRACKING FOR NESTING HAWKSBILL，ERETMOCHELYS IMBRICATA IN THE GULF OF THAILAND

Abstract

Two female hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata were tracked with satellite transmitters to study their movement during the inter-nesting period, one turtle was from Ko Ira Island and another one from Ko Charn Island, in the inner Gulf of Thailand. The location, sea surface temperature and surface time were provided via ARGOS satellite system. From February to April 2002, both female turtles still nested 3-4 times in 51-61 days of transmitter deployment. The data obtained during the inter-nesting period indicates that both turtles always moved restrictedly within 25 km around their nesting beach. Unfortunately, the transmission error occurred soon after the turtle finished nesting. However the signal was recovered again around 15 days during July and August 2002 for Ko Charn Island's turtle. It indicated that the turtle still stayed in residence of her nesting beach. This means that nesting hawksbill turtles may not immediately migrate to foraging ground, but prefer to feed around the nesting beach or they remain resident permanently at nesting area as feeding ground.