Ancient Sea Turtles
Documentary, USA 1998 (28 min.)

Produced for a general audience and for schools, the film explores the mysterious natural history of the giant endangered sea turtles beginning with the emergence of the tiny hatchling from its nest. The turtle dashes to the sea, having to avoid not only predators, but beach lightning which draws turtles away from the ocean. Thus begins an odyssey that will take the hatchling on a several thousand mile and decades-long migration, returning as a giant adult to the very beach where it began life, thus completing the mystical life cycle that has endured for over 100 million years. The modern world poses many new threats to ancient sea turtles as they attempt to complete their life cycle- poaching, entanglement in fishing gear, destruction of nesting sites, and pollution of the oceans. The greatest threat comes from the capture of sea turtles in shrimp nets. Turtle Excluder Devises (TEDs) the simple solution which allows sea turtles and shrimp fishing to coexist is highlighted.

1998 International Wildlife Film Festival
1998 National Educational Media