A Turtle's Eye View of the Great Barrier Reef

Ever wonder what life looks like below the surface in the Great Barrier Reef? See it through the eyes of a sea turtle.

To better understand the post-release behavior of tagged green turtles, WWF and partners carefully fastened a GoPro—a tiny waterproof camera—to the back of a female sea turtle. The 15 minutes of footage the camera collected gives us a unique view of the Great Barrier Reef.

Fastened safely with a suction cup, the camera accessory was designed to fall off the turtle after a short period of time. A diver collected the camera after it fell.

WWF is collaborating with researchers, government agencies and community groups to learn more about how pollution levels affect turtles in the reef. Green turtles, like the one to which the camera was attached, are classified as endangered. WWF works to protect sea turtle habitat, including the Great Barrier Reef, which is home to nearly 6,000 species. Tagging turtles helps us to learn where important feeding areas are located, understand migration patterns, and anticipate where turtles may come into contact with fisheries and their gear.