Turning the Tide Newsletter – Spring 2024
Endangered Turtles
Leatherback turtles are the largest of all sea turtles.
They occur in tropical and temperate Australian waters. Most leatherback turtles living in our waters migrate to breed in neighbouring Indonesia and Pacific Island countries.
In the last decade, populations of leatherback turtles have declined dramatically.
In some areas of the Pacific Ocean and South East Asia, formerly abundant rookeries (nesting sites) have almost disappeared. It is estimated that Pacific leatherback populations have declined 80–95% over the last 20 years.
Few leatherback hatchlings survive to adulthood (around one in a thousand) and those that do make it are at risk from human activities. These include being caught in fishing lines and nets, or being struck by boats. They are also susceptible to death from plastic marine debris mistaken for their favourite food: jellyfish. Ocean warming, more extreme weather and rising sea levels affects turtles’ nesting grounds.
Facts & Figures
COMMON NAME: Leatherback Turtle
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dermochelys coriacea
TYPE: Reptile
GROUP NAME: Bale or Flotilla
DIET: Carnivore
LIFESPAN: 45 years
SIZE (ADULT): 1.6m long
WEIGHT: 500 kg
CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered (EPBC)