Leather-back Turtle
By: Nuha Kadak
Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea
Basic Information:
The Leather-back are the world's largest ocean-going turtle. They are extremely adaptable and can be found from tropical to subarctic regions. They spend most of their life traveling in the sea but come to shore to lay their eggs. Leather backs have the longest migrations between breeding and feeding areas of any sea turtle, averaging 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) each way.
Why should we save them?
Leather back turtles have existed for around 100 million years. They have been listed as endangered since 1970. They are a key part of marine ecosystems and the marine food chain. The global population for this species was estimated to be 115,000 adult females in 1982. Now The Pacific may now have as few as 2,300 adult females.
Causes of Decrease
- egg hunting
- turtles getting stuck in fishery nets
- habitat loss
- over harvesting
- illegal trade
What is being done to help?
- World Wildlife Fund has talked to fisheries to install turtle friendly fishing hooks.
- Coral Triangle and main breeding habitats are being protected by organizations.
- Marine researchers have set up satellites to track the turtles