Chinese scientists have applied domestic satellite navigation technology on ancient sea turtles to collect data and enhance the protection of this endangered species.
On a beach in Huidong County of south China's Guangdong Province, scientists were releasing 200 sea turtles back into their natural habitat, including 100 turtles that were raised in human care.
These efforts are the culmination of years of work by the Huidong National Sea Turtle Nature Reserve, combining field rescue with artificial breeding to help revive China's sea turtle population, which has been threatened by overfishing and habitat loss.
This year, a Chinese-developed sea turtle satellite tracker -- powered by the country's Beidou Navigation System -- has been applied on these turtles for the first time.
"This is a brand-new device, made right here in China. It doesn't use an external antenna like some foreign models, so it won't break when the turtle rests underwater, in which case we won't be able to receive the data," said Xia Zhongrong, a senior engineer at the Huidong National Sea Turtle Nature Reserve.
The tracker is equipped with underwater sensors, smart computing technology and ultra-low power communication device, all operating through China's Beidou satellites.
"With Beidou's positioning and short-message communication technologies, we can get data even when there are no ground stations," said He Shuqian, head of Sea Turtle Research Team at Hainan Normal University.
The new technology is also eco-friendly, as the scientists used a green, non-toxic adhesive to attach the trackers, minimizing the impact on both the turtles and the ocean.
Satellite tracking is one of the most effective methods to study sea turtle migration routes. The data collected will help scientists better understand their feeding grounds, migration patterns, and the best strategies for protecting these creatures.
China protects ancient sea turtles with domestic satellite navigation technology
