Spot A Turtle
Sea Turtle Identification in Mauritius
Join our Photo-ID Program and help us protect turtles across the Indian Ocean
Why Photo Identification?
Sea turtles are long-lived, migratory species — and tracking them over time is essential for understanding their health, habitat use, and survival.
Each turtle has a unique facial scale pattern that does not change over time — like a fingerprint. By taking a clear photograph of a turtle’s left and/or right profile, researchers can identify individual turtles, monitor their condition, and follow their journeys across the lagoon and ocean.
At LagoonLife, we are proud to be part of the TORSOOI network (Tortues Marines de l’Océan Indien Sud-Ouest), a regional collaboration led by Kélonia (La Réunion) and CEDTM, which gathers turtle identification data from across Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar, Seychelles, and beyond.
How You Can Help
Whether you are a diver, snorkeler, fisherman, boat operator, or ocean enthusiast — you can contribute to turtle conservation simply by sending us a photo.
🐢 What to do:
- Take a clear picture of the turtle’s face
- The ideal photo is a close-up of the side of the turtle’s head (left or right)
- If possible, take both profiles
- Try to capture the facial scales clearly (sharp focus, no blur, taken from the side)
- (Optional) Take a full-body photo
This helps us evaluate the turtle’s overall condition and identify possible injuries, entanglement, or health issues.
- Send the photos to our team
Email to: info@lagoonlife.mu
Include the following information:
- Your full name (for crediting if desired)
- Date and location of the sighting (GPS or lagoon/beach name)
- Any notes or observations (e.g. if the turtle seemed injured, was floating, entangled, or had tags)
We will handle the identification for you — you don’t need to analyze the photo yourself. If the turtle is already known in the TORSOOI database, we’ll update its record. If it’s a new individual, we’ll create a new ID and add it to our gallery.
What Happens to Your Photo?
Your photo becomes part of a scientific and conservation network that supports:
- Individual turtle identification
- Long-term tracking across regions and countries
- Monitoring of injuries, entanglement, and rehabilitation cases
- Population studies and migration patterns
- Cross-sharing with Kélonia, CEDTM, and Indian Ocean researchers via the TORSOOI platform
At LagoonLife, we analyze your submission using a method developed by Kélonia. This involves mapping the facial scales and entering the data into the regional database. Turtles identified in Mauritius can now be followed over time — and possibly even re-sighted in other countries.
Meet the Turtles
Explore our Turtle Gallery — a growing archive of the sea turtles identified in Mauritius, either by our team or submitted by local citizens, divers, and visitors.
Each turtle profile includes:
- A unique identification code (linked to its profile in the database)
- Photos of its left and right head profiles (when available)
- Date and location of the sighting
- Name of the contributor/photographer (if consented)
- Status: Juvenile / Adult / Nesting / Injured / Recovered / etc.
Note: This is a public educational gallery, not the full scientific database. Only selected and verified turtles will appear here.
Download Our Flyer – Share the Mission
We’ve created a simple, printable flyer to help raise awareness and explain the steps of turtle photo identification.
Perfect for dive shops, tour boats, marine clubs, beachside cafés, hotels, and NGOs.
[Click here to download the Sea Turtle ID Flyer (PDF)]
Feel free to print and share — together we can build a network of sea turtle guardians across Mauritius.
About TORSOOI & Our Partners
LagoonLife Foundation is a contributing member of the TORSOOI identification program, alongside partners in Réunion, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mayotte, and other Indian Ocean islands.
The program is coordinated by:
- Kélonia – Sea Turtle Observatory and Museum (La Réunion)
- CEDTM – Centre d’Étude et de Découverte des Tortues Marines
- IFREMER and affiliated regional researchers
Together, we share data to better understand and protect sea turtles throughout the Indian Ocean.
Learn more about TORSOOI and sea turtles at Kélonia →
Every Turtle Counts
Your photo might help us:
- Save a turtle in distress
- Track a returning visitor
- Discover new individuals in our waters
- Strengthen scientific knowledge and conservation action
📍 Mauritius
Protect What You Love
Your support helps us restore corals, rescue turtles, and safeguard Mauritius’ lagoons.
