For Release: April 2 , 2007
It is among the longest known migrations by sea or land -- the female loggerhead turtle's solitary, year-long voyage across 9,000 miles of the Pacific Ocean. Driven by instinct and risking her very survival, she undertakes an astounding odyssey to return to her birthplace to lay her eggs.
Nature "Voyage of the Lonely Turtle" takes viewers along on this amazing migration. Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham, the program airs Sunday, April 15 at 8/7 p.m. CT on KET2 and Saturday, April 21 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1. Underwater footage captures the creatures that share the Pacific waters: hammerhead sharks and sperm whales, manta rays and dolphins, giant squid, saltwater crocodiles, clouds of jel lyfish and more.
Like the fabled tortoise, the loggerhead turtle journeys slowly but steadily, averaging one mile per hour on her epic trek. Departing from the coast of Mexico, she swims for six months before resting in the Hawaiian Islands, then continues toward the shores of Japan. Besides natural predators, the loggerhead turtle must be wary of industrial-scale fishing on her voyage.
After 9,000 miles, the loggerhead finally reaches her goal -- a beach in Japan. She digs a hole, laying and burying about 100 eggs, and then heads back into the Pacific. She won't return to Mexico, but will stay in the waters around Japan and China for the rest of her life, which can last 100 years or more.
Nature "Voyage of the Lonely Turtle" is produced by WNET/New York. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.