A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF LEATHERBACK PIT TAGGING DATA FROM THE BIRD'S HEAD PENINSULA, PAPUA BARAT, INDONESIA

Abstract

Jamursba-Medi and Wermon beaches on Bird’s Head Peninsula in Papua Barat, Indonesia, are believed to support the largest remaining nesting aggregation of endangered leatherbacks in the Pacific. The Jamursba-Medi beach complex is separated from Wermon by about 30 km. Nesting activity peaks in July at Jamursba-Medi, whereas at Wermon nesting activity is bimodal with peaks in December and June. Beginning in 2003, we began periodically tagging females with Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags. Tag-recapture effort was opportunistic through 2008, but a systematic protocol was initiated during the 2009-2010 nesting season. Between 2003 and 2010, 977 distinct females were tagged. Remigration intervals were documented for some females, and a few females nested on both Jamursba-Medi and Wermon during the same season. Committed long-term population monitoring and protection are prerequisites for determining the conservation status and initiating the recovery of the Pacific leatherback.