TONGAREVA ATOLL
Honu's main research takes place here.
Our lagoon is huge:
In fact you could fit the total land area of the Cook Islands
into it and still have room to spare.
![](resources/Tongareva/Tongareva above.jpg?timestamp=1353022312598)
Our lagoon is huge:
In fact you could fit the total land area of the Cook Islands
into it and still have room to spare.
![](resources/Tongareva/Tongareva above.jpg?timestamp=1353022312598)
We measure & tag turtles to study population ecology.
These numbered tags are reported to global databases, so
anyone finding tagged turtles can report them for us.![](resources/Tongareva/Mike applying Stockbrands titanium tag.jpg?timestamp=1353023245474)
These numbered tags are reported to global databases, so
anyone finding tagged turtles can report them for us.
![](resources/Tongareva/Mike applying Stockbrands titanium tag.jpg?timestamp=1353023245474)
We collect small pieces of skin (biopsies) for genetic analysis.
DNA haplotypes help us learn who we share our turtles with.
Turtles are migratory animals: living in different places
at different times ... they are hard to study in the open ocean.
![](resources/Tongareva/Mike collecting DNA sample.jpg?timestamp=1353023962482)
DNA haplotypes help us learn who we share our turtles with.
Turtles are migratory animals: living in different places
at different times ... they are hard to study in the open ocean.
![](resources/Tongareva/Mike collecting DNA sample.jpg?timestamp=1353023962482)