Green turtles are threatened with extinction, and are therefore listed as an endangered species on the red list of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
Since 1994, the staff at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, have studied the reproduction and physiological ecology of green turtles through captive breeding, with the goal of conservation.
Discovering the age of sexual maturation in sea turtles is extremely difficult, and the most effective method is through captive breeding. At our facility, we are rearing a female green turtle that was born at the aquarium in 1999. Each year we conduct an ultrasound scan of their ovaries, and measure their straight carapace length and body mass. The results showed that a reared female green turtle’s sextual maturation begins at around 22 – 23 years old with straight carapace length 82.4–83.5 kg and body mass 100.4–105.0 kg.

Author

Isao Kawazu, Ken Maeda, Takahiro Kobuchi, Takahide Sasai, Kaho Mizuochi, Kei Yamazaki, Konomi Maeda, Masakatsu Kino, Shingo Fukada (Bold letters: the Churashima Foundation Staff)

Journal

Journal of Japanese Association Zoos and Aquariums