The tradition of Tour de Turtles lives on at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

VERO BEACH, Florida. – For 17 years, Disney has been celebrating an iconic Florida species.

Between March and October, Disney Conservation and the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) closely monitor the beaches at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

“It’s one of the most important nesting beaches for sea turtles in the world, and we’re so happy to have it on our doorstep,” said Dr. Mark Penning, Disney’s vice president of Animal, Science and Environment.

On Saturday, conservation groups, Vero Beach guests and the public watched as two large sea turtles entered the waters of the Atlantic Ocean to begin their migration.

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Tour de Turtles is an educational event that tracks the migration of sea turtles from their nesting beaches to their feeding grounds. Each sea turtle is equipped with satellite tags on their shells and sends back data showing how far they swim during the migration season. Penning says that guests who see science in action learn even more about turtle migration.

Florida is having another strong year following a record nesting season in 2023 for loggerhead and green sea turtles. The Disney Conservation Team has recorded 22,000 sea turtle nests since the program began, helping an estimated 1.8 million sea turtle hatchlings make their first steps on the resort’s five-mile stretch of beach.

“Ninety percent of a sea turtle’s life is spent in the water. Ninety percent of their life is more of a mystery,” said Dr. Zak Gezon, director of the Disney Conservation Team. “We really need to understand what they’re doing during that time and where they’re going.”

This year, Disney is tracking two new nesting sea turtles, named Ebb and Flo, with the tracking devices in collaboration with the STC. As usual, the names have a Disney connection. Ebb and Flow are inspired by a new Disney Junior animated series.

“This project is a great science project and it gives us valuable information about what these animals are doing,” Penning said. “But it also makes people who are watching appreciate the fact that we are sharing that space with their sea turtles.”

The satellite tags are an important tool for scientists to learn how best to protect sea turtles. As for the public, picking up litter and using reusable alternatives like bags and bottles are simple solutions to reducing the use of single-use plastics, which can help waterways.

Click here to learn more about Turtle Conservation at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

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