Turtle Swims 7,000 Miles From Panama to Nova Scotia and Back

A mama leatherback turtle has scientists cheering after completing a marathon 7,000-mile swim that few of her species have ever been tracked making.

Riptide, a female leatherback from the Caribbean, was tagged and released off Panama's coast on May 22. Over the next seven months, she traveled north all the way to Nova Scotia before turning around and heading back south to Florida waters.

The Sea Turtle Conservancy, a Florida-based research group, tracked her entire journey. Riptide hit several milestones along the way: Turks and Caicos in July, near Nova Scotia by mid-September, and Fire Island, New York in late November.

"Riptide is one of the first turtles we have tracked from Panama that went all the way to the North Atlantic and then back down to the coast of Florida in a bit over seven months," said David Godfrey, the organization's executive director. While not the longest migration they've recorded, it ranks among the most impressive for under a year.

Riptide is currently swimming near Jacksonville. Scientists predict she'll likely return to Panama, where she nested 93 fertile eggs last year, but probably not until 2027.

"It would be unusual for her to nest two years in a row," Godfrey explained. "More likely, she will continue to migrate around looking for food until she returns to the Caribbean in 2027."

Researchers estimate Riptide is at least 15 years old, though she could be much older. Once fully grown, leatherbacks face few natural predators besides large sharks.

Why This Inspires

Riptide's journey reminds us that nature still holds incredible mysteries worth protecting. Her 7,000-mile swim shows the resilience and determination these ancient creatures possess.

The Sea Turtle Conservancy, the oldest sea turtle research group in the world, works across Central America, the Caribbean, and Florida to protect these remarkable animals. Their tracking efforts help scientists understand migration patterns and protect critical habitats.

The biggest threats to leatherbacks come from human activity: commercial fishing accidents, boat strikes, habitat disturbance, and egg poaching on nesting beaches. Organizations like STC work to reduce these threats and give turtles like Riptide a fighting chance.

"Turtles do their own thing, and it will be fun to watch and see if she surprises us back in Panama this summer," Godfrey said. For now, Riptide continues her journey, a swimming testament to the wonders still thriving in our oceans.