KempsRidleySeaTurtle_RRRR_Caillouet_Charles_MontgomeryTX_13December2021_Reel4084.mp3

Charles Caillouet, Jr. [00:00:00] In my opinion, the role of rescue, resuscitation, rehabilitation and release translocations of Kemp's ridleys should be evaluated scientifically.

Charles Caillouet, Jr. [00:00:11] In a 2016 paper, I and others called for such an evaluation, and suggested that it be applied to other sea turtle species as well. We included the acronym, RRRR, to represent rescue, resuscitation, rehabilitation and release.

Charles Caillouet, Jr. [00:00:29] It is surprising that no evaluations have been conducted to determine whether RRRR translocations contribute significantly to Kemp's ridley population recovery, or to population recovery of any sea turtle species.

Charles Caillouet, Jr. [00:00:44] For example, methods that were used to evaluate and terminate the Kemp's ridley Head Start experiment could be applied to evaluate such translocations.

Charles Caillouet, Jr. [00:00:54] There's a major information gap concerning sea turtle RRRR translocations, because relatively few such Kemp's ridleys, or other species of sea turtles, have been marked, tagged, or fitted with transmitters to determine how long they survive in the wild following release, and to determine what proportion reaches maturity and reproduces.

Charles Caillouet, Jr. [00:01:16] For the United States and its territories, another issue is that many, if not most, sea turtles saved by RRRR translocations have been required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be released near locations where they were found stranded. This requirement needs evaluation.

Charles Caillouet, Jr. [00:01:34] It probably would be better to release RRRR translocated Kemp's ridleys into waters of the western Gulf of Mexico, where most reproduction takes place.

Charles Caillouet, Jr. [00:01:45] Like Head Start, RRRR translocations are highly manipulative conservation interventions. They involve extended exposure of captive sea turtles to human treatment and care. Conditioning to extended human exposure and care may reduce their survivability in the wild.