"Billie" the turtle wins Costa Rica sea race - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

"Billie" the turtle wins Costa Rica sea race

13 minutes ago

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - A leatherback turtle called
Billie won the first Great Turtle Race from Costa Rica to the
Galapagos Islands, swimming at a leisurely 3 or 4 mph (5-6
kph), organisers said on Friday.

Satellite tracking of 11 tagged turtles showed Billie sprinting
away from the main group to make it first to the finish zone.
Two turtles failed to get past the starting line, and another,
Purple Lightning, veered miles off course.

Some 600,000 people logged on to the web site of the two-
week Pacific Ocean marathon (www.greatturtlerace.com),
aimed at drawing attention to the endangered species whose
numbers have plummeted 95 percent over the past 20 years.

-snip-

At Playa Grande, a key nesting ground in northern Costa Rica
where the race started, only 50 turtles showed up to lay eggs
this year, down from 1,500 in 1989, Bailey said.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070428/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_costarica_turtles_2

[onehandle]

1. Billie is a man, baby!

So says Colbert. To win against Steven's turtle, they must have cheated!

[dflprincess]

2. Stephen was very upset last night about

Stephanie Colbertle the Turtle's loss.

[monktonman]

4. Billie and Ann the man have something in common

[proud patriot]

3. Way to go Billie

:woohoo:

[Gloria]

5. Only 50 turtles nesting.....damn, what a crime!