SYDNEY, May 25 -- Baby turtles with satellite tracking devices attached to their shells are due to be released off the Western Australian (WA) coast so scientists can study their movements.

Eight baby flatback turtles have been fattened up over the past four months so they are strong enough to carry the transmitters before they are released, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Monday.

The study is being conducted by a group of marine scientists from the WA Department of Parks and Wildlife, Florida Atlantic University and James Cook University.

"In the whole scheme of things, to understand the biology of the turtle and understand what habitat they are using in space and time, it's a really small cost," said Department of Parks and Wildlife principal scientist Scott Whiting.

The transmitters are attached with glue and are expected to last for three months.