Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

UNF Partners With State Officials On Sea Turtle Research

Peter Haden / WJCT

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the University of North Florida have teamed up to learn more about the lives of sea turtles.

Scientists and students crowded into UNF’s necropsy lab Thursday to dissect three dead sea turtles that washed up on Northeast Florida beaches.

The lab is currently the only sea turtle research lab on Florida's east coast. Dr. Daniel Moon, chairman of UNF's biology department, said it provides a unique facility for government scientists, university faculty and students to work together. 

"They can determine cause of death, whether there was disease present, and whether there were parasites. This is important information that can start to fill in the gaps in our knowledge of sea turtles," he said.

Prior to construction of the necropsy lab at UNF, scientists from Northeast Florida had to transport animals to labs in Tampa or Ft. Pierce.

You can follow Peter Haden on Twitter @HadenMedia.

Peter Haden is an award-winning investigative reporter and photographer currently working with The Center for Investigative Reporting. His stories are featured in media outlets around the world including NPR, CNN en Español, ECTV Ukraine, USA Today, Qatar Gulf Times, and the Malaysia Star.