Venti Anni takes off in Tour de Turtles race

Crowds gathered at Clearwater Beach this morning when Venti Anni, a juvenile green sea turtle, was released as a part of the Tour de Turtles Race on the Rock.

The Bermuda Zoological Society, as well as the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo, the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the Atlantic Conservation Partnership, the Department of Conservation Services and RenaissanceRe sponsored the event.

Venti Anni has been fitted with a satellite-tracking device on the back of its shell, which will allow scientists to track its movements over the next three months. Those who attended were able to watch as the device was fitted, and then as Venti Anni was let loose to make its way down the beach and back into the water.

RenaisanceRe sponsors Venti Anni.

“We are delighted to sponsor a turtle in the Tour de Turtles Bermuda,” said Kevin O’Donnell, RenaissanceRe’s Chief Executive Officer. “It provides a fun way to engage children in science.”

Those interested in following Venti Anni’s progress can view those details on an interactive map at www.tourdeturtles.org/Bermuda.

“We’re excited about Tour de Turtle because it engages both the community and scientists with sea turtle research,” shared BAMZ Principal Curator Dr. Ian Walker. “It allows people to get involved in the process and gives them a greater understanding and appreciation of this endangered species.”

“It also provides us with an amazing detail of information of what these animals do and where they spend their time.”

For more information, or to obtain special educational packets for classroom teachers, contact 293-2727or [email protected].