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Wawa Bear is the largest turtle ever captured in Nova Scotian waters, bigger than most real bears! While the 'Bear' in this turtle's name is obvious, the 'Wawa' comes from what she called her grandmother when Wawa Bear was just a little turtle. She is a regular traveler from Canada to the Caribbean; she has nested in French Guiana every 2 years since 1993. Wawa Bear is not a turtle that needs to stop and ask for directions.
IN THE NEWS: Pearl Jam’s Backspacer Wins, but Wawa Bear Steals the Spotlight
To get in shape for the Race, Wawa Bear was trained by Olympic champion Jason Lezak, who is a career anchor swimmer, so his teammates rely on him to pull through at the end of the race.
Listen to Dr. Mike James from the Canadian Sea Turtle Network describe their experiences watching Wawa Bear’s migration to her nesting beach and waiting for word that she had been spotted.