0:02
Peter and I visited a place where there's reason for hope.
0:05
Through scientific research, education and community outreach, the Atlantis Resort supports a variety of projects to preserve sea species and their habitats throughout the Bahamas, including the conservation of the small tooth sawfish.
0:20
Sawfish here are definitely a need of protection.
0:22
The last survey they did, they think there's somewhere between 30 and 50 still left.
0:26
In 2012, after years of work, Atlantis was the first aquarium to successfully breed sawfish under human care.
0:34
We had four that were born and all of them are still here today.
0:36
It's one of our proudest moments.
0:39
Coastal development and climate change have decimated mangrove ecosystems in the Bahamas, and so the Atlantis conservation team has stepped in to help.
0:48
But this here is one of our mangrove nursery areas.
0:54
Atlantis has raised thousands of mangrove seedlings and planted them in a local National Park.
0:59
Today, it looks like a real mangrove ecosystem because it lines the coastline.
1:04
It's well over 1200 acres, so it's definitely a huge difference.
1:09
Atlantis is the largest open air marine habitat in the world.
1:12
We have over 250 species here, sharks, rays, fish, all kind of animals here.
1:17
But of course, I was here to finally see a sawfish.
1:21
It was incredible.
1:22
As we dropped down, the sawfish were curious and huge.
1:27
Wow.
1:28
I heard they could get big, but seeing when in person really drives that point home.
1:34
One turn towards us carefully.
1:36
We just hovered there for a second.
1:38
That huge rostrum with teeth on it was so close.
1:43
And then this sawfish just casually turned and swam away.
1:47
I'm excited to take part in another conservation project that's underway.
1:51
Kristen.
1:51
OK, what is going on behind us?
1:54
All right, so right here we have our juvenile green sea turtle exhibit.
1:59
We're going to release one of these guys today back into the wild.
2:02
So we actually have two different release programs for our sea turtles, one for our hatchlings and one for our juvenile or sub adult turtles.
2:10
Atlantis releases green sea turtles raised under human care to give the wild population a boost.
2:16
How many have been released so far?
2:18
I want to say over 7000.
2:21
So somewhere around that.
2:22
Yeah.
2:23
The conservation staff chose a suitable candidate for release.
2:27
Hi.
2:27
I think this one's ready to go explore the ocean.
2:30
Then we brought the young green sea turtle to the resort's fish hospital, recorded its measurements and weight, and drove out along the coast 20 minutes away from Atlantis.
2:41
It's your moment.
2:44
Here we go.
2:45
And just let it let it go.
2:46
Yeah, just let it go a moment.
2:49
Bye.
2:49
Bye.
2:51
Free.
2:55
This green sea turtle descending gently into its new home is living proof of the conservation work being done by Kristen and the team at Atlantis.
