Leatherback Sea Turtles
100 Million Year Old Species Going Extinct
General Information
Leatherback Sea Turtles are the only living representitives of a family tracing back 100 million years. They are the largest, deepest diving sea turtle in the world, averaging 6.5 feet long and 1190 pounds. Instead of having a solid, hard shell like other sea turtles, they have a firm leather-like carcus made of bones and skin. These animals can be found in a wide range of temperate waters in places such as Great Britian, Newfoundland, and Argentina.
World Map
Leatherback Sea Turtles can be found in the highlighted areas
A Baby Leatherback Sea Turtle
Babys are hatched on beaches and find their way to the sea
Massive Size
The size of a full grown turtle can be viewed here compared to a human
Leatherback turtle nesting part 1
Saving The Turtles
Why Leatherbacks are Endangered Today
These creatures face many difficulties during their lifetime. On land, they may not make it to sea due to the confusion of artificial light. Also, their eggs are always endangered of being poached. Temperature change and destruction of habitat are also factors in the recent decline of turtle population. In the sea, Leatherbacks are in danger of being captured by fishing nets and once caught, poached for their meat. They also confuse certain plastics that are littered into the water for jellyfish, and cannot digest the garbage. Some turtles have been found with 11 pounds of plastic in their stomachs. On June 2nd, 1970, they were listed as endangered, and recently have been set at critically endangered, however they have had multiple acts of species revival. The acts, such as various conservation acts, government registration, and petitions can be viewed in the species profile link below.
Nets Endanger Creatures
Inappropriate fishing nets tangle these turtles and cause drowning
Baby Hatchlings
Once hatched, these turtles must use natural light to find the sea. They can get confused by artificial light from lighthouses, flashlights etc.
Diving
Leatherback Sea Turtles are the deepest diving sea turtle today
Why They Matter
Leatherback Sea Turtles have been around for 100 million years. They are a fundamental link to the ecosystems. They consume vast amounts of jellyfish which keep the populations down. They also help the economy by bringing tourists to areas.
How Can I Help?
Visit http://www.savetheseaturtle.org/adopt-a-nest.html to donate money and adopt a sea turtle. The procedes will go to preserving the wild turtles.