AIn July 2002 a loggerhead turtle later named FeeBee hatched from her nest in the Spanish River Park, Florida. FeeBees nest was washed over by several storms. Only 16 of the 94 eggs from FeeBee's nest survived to hatch. Nine of the hatchlings that emerged from the nest were stolen and taken from the beach. Of the remaining seven hatchlings in the nest, only one survived: FeeBee. Jeanette Wyneken was the scientist who brought FeeBee into the lab to help with the outreach program at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Since the day she hatched, FeeBee has called Gumbo Limbo home. First at the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) marine lab as part of a gender ratio study, where the public could visit FeeBee and see science in action and then, at three months of age, she moved just 50 feet away from the lab to spend time with Dr. Kirt Rusenko, the marine conservationist at the Nature Center.FeeBees release
FeeBee and her tank partner Milton were released into the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian Inlet, Florida when their shell length was 18 inches (50cm) long. FeeBee was the inspiration behind the film Turtle: The Incredible Journey, as the director Nick Stringer became curious to know where FeeBee would go after her release. FeeBee lived at Gumbo Limbo for over six years, and the many children that have grown up with her are now able to track her through the satellite tag that has been attached to her since her release on the 6th November 2008. Captive-raised turtles are rarely satellite tagged, so this release is giving scientists a unique opportunity to see how these turtles behave. Eventually we may be able understand if they behave the same or differently than wild turtles. The satellite tags allow the general public to follow the paths of FeeBee and Milton on their epic journey in the Atlantic Ocean.SCIENTIFIC CONSULTANT TO TURTLE: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY AND SOSF PROJECT LEADER PROFESSOR JEANETTE WYNEKEN
Professor Jeanette Wyneken from Florida Atlantic University is one of the worlds leading turtle biologists and the films key science consultant. She has been studying turtles for more than 25 years and has published numerous articles and definitive books including The Biology of Sea Turtles and The Anatomy of Reptiles. She now runs the Marine Sea Turtle Research Program at the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex where the film crew was based throughout filming of Turtle: The Incredible Journey. Her expertise and knowledge ensured that the crew was able to film some unique turtle behaviour in the wild and with the rescue turtles at Gumbo Limbo. Her passion and commitment for turtles and marine conservation were a great source of inspiration for the film crew in often challenging and arduous shoots. Her diligence and dedication to her science have ensured that the film reflects the true story of loggerhead story.These animals are in a lot of trouble right now, the timing is right to tell their story before it disappears. We know more about the loggerhead than any other sea turtle, so we can connect the pieces and tell their story, the journey is their story. But its telling us more about the state of the oceans, its helping us to understand whats happening in the ocean at large and how we need protect it.JEANETTE WYNEKEN
