Loggerhead turtles feed in the same places year after year -- meaning key locations should be protected, researchers say. University of Exeter scientists used satellite tracking and "stable isotope ratios" -- a chemical signature also used by forensic scientists -- to track female loggerheads from two rookeries (nesting beaches) in the Mediterranean. The study identified three main feeding areas -- the Adriatic region, the Tunisian Plateau and the eastern Mediterranean. "This work shows the importance of combining satellite tracking and stable isotopes to help understand these elusive animals." "Each year at least 10,000 turtles die as accidental bycatch off North Africa, while illegal trade in turtle meat persists.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 23, 2020 15:22 UTC