Honda ATVs Lead Fight for Endangered Sea Turtles

Sea turtles, whose survival dates back approximately 90 million years to the age of the dinosaurs, are among the earth's oldest living species. Inundated by mistreatment, human development and habitat deprivation, sea turtles are losing their place in the world - six of the world's seven sea turtle species are federally listed as endangered in United States waters.

Responding to this situation, Honda's motorcycle division supports the recovery efforts of the most endangered species of sea turtle - the Ridley turtle, found largely in the Gulf of Mexico. Joining a collaborative effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mexican government, Honda has contributed 30 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to the Ridley Sea Turtle Recovery Project.

"Honda has come through for this recovery effort in a big way," said Pat Burchfield, U.S. field group coordinator for the project. "It takes time to see the results of recovery efforts, but we are beginning to see a recovery of this species. Within the next three to five years, and with Honda's help, we hope to see the Ridley sea turtle removed from the endangered list."

Using Honda ATVs to conduct daily patrols of approximately 90 miles of beaches on Padre Island, Texas, and Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, project members search for nesting turtles, mark the sites, tag turtles, and collect and relocate eggs to a protected area away from poachers (human and animal). Project team members rely on the Honda ATVs to run patrols three to five times daily. The ATV supplies necessary mobility with minimal impact to the environment.