The Leatherback Turtles: Can we stop their extinction?
There are many endangered species in the world, and unfortunately, the list of vulnerable species grows longer every year. Specifically, the Leatherback Turtle has been named one of the most endangered species in the world. In the Pacific, there are as few as 2,300 females remaining.
For starters, Leatherback Turtles are the largest turtles on our planet. They can grow up to 7 feet long and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. You can distinguish them by their long front flippers and shell. Unlike other turtles that have a bony shell, the Leatherback is covered with a leather-like brown/black layer of skin. This unique leather-like skin is how they got their name too. Another factor that makes these turtles unique is how they can slightly control their body temperature. Their special blood system allows them to stay multiple degrees above water temperature. This amazing feature allows these turtles to be able to tolerate cold water. They can also dive up to 1,200 meters proving that the leatherback turtles can dive a lot deeper compared to other marine turtles.
After Leatherback Turtles mate in the sea, they come ashore in order to lay their eggs. To do this, they dig a hole in the sand. After digging the hole, the pregnant leatherback turtle can lay about 60–120 eggs. When they complete this process, they go back into the sea. A fun fact about sea turtles is that the temperature of the sand will determine the gender of the turtles. For the turtles to be a mix of female and male, the temperature needs to be about 85.1 degrees (about 29.5 celsius). Once hatched, turtles of both genders will set out to sea. In the future, the young female turtles will mature and come back to lay their eggs in the sand. The males, on the other hand, will stay out at sea for the rest of their lives.
As mentioned earlier, the Leatherback Turtle is one of the most endangered species currently. The biggest threat to them is human activity. According to National Geographic, it is estimated that only 1 in a thousand hatchlings live long enough to reach adulthood. This is because their eggs are sometimes taken by people. These turtles are also major victims of pollution. The turtles can frequently mistake plastic for jellyfish and eat it on accident. Another threat includes many turtles being killed by fishing fleets. In addition, leatherback Turtles are widely distributed in the Pacific during their migration process. Because of this, the chance of them coming into contact with longline fisheries.
However, in certain places. the turtles are receiving strong protection. In southern Africa, the annual nesting population has become more than 4 fold after 3 decades. Also, in western Africa, there are about 10,400 nests per season. Up to date, the most important nesting beaches “are found in Suriname, French Guiana, and Gabon.” Other important beach locations include Indonesia, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua in the Pacific. If you’re interested in helping to save these turtles there is a non-profit organization that goes by the name “The Leatherback Trust”. This organization works to conserve this species population. We must bring more attention to these amazing creatures in order to preserve their populations. Take action now and save the beautiful leatherback turtles from further endangerment!
Sources:
https://www.leatherback.org/ The Leatherback Trust (non-profit organization)
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Sea-Turtles/Leatherback-Sea-Turtle
https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/the-10-most-endangered-animals/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/leatherback-sea-turtle
https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/marine_turtles/leatherback_turtle/
