BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A marine park is joining U.S. researchers in studying methods to conserve the Hawaiian green sea turtle, an endangered species.
The park joins a collaborative study between the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service to help conserve the Hawaiian green sea turtle by adding a pool of already captive turtles to the project.
"The nice thing is that we can do the study without having any impact on the threatened wild population," said UAB Biologist Thane Wibbels.
Dolphin Discovery's Sea Life Park on Oahu joins UAB and the NMFS Pacific Island Science Center in researching the effects of incubation temperature on the gender of the turtles. Researchers also study natural nesting locations in the northern Hawaiian Islands.
Green Sea Turtles weigh about an ounce at birth and can grow to approximately 400 pounds. Although its lifespan is not know, it's believe the turtles reach sexual maturity at the age of 25 and can life up to 80 years.
