Leatherback Sea Turtle: Conservation of a Living Giant

Leatherback sea turtles are the world's largest reptiles and one of the most ancient, yet they face extinction from plastic ingestion, bycatch, and nesting beach disturbance. Their welfare needs span two ocean hemispheres.

Key Facts

Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) are the largest reptiles on Earth, reaching 2 metres and 900 kg
They are the only sea turtle without a hard shell — a leathery carapace allows them to dive to 1,200 metres
Leatherbacks travel the longest migrations of any reptile — some individuals travel 10,000+ km between feeding and nesting grounds
Their primary prey is jellyfish — they consume up to 73% of their body weight daily during feeding season
Plastic bags floating in the ocean are visually indistinguishable from jellyfish to leatherbacks — plastic ingestion is a leading cause of death
Bycatch in longline, gillnet, and trawl fisheries causes significant mortality across Atlantic and Pacific populations
Pacific leatherback populations have declined over 95% since the 1980s — they are Critically Endangered; Atlantic populations are Vulnerable

Welfare Considerations

Leatherback welfare is challenged by multiple human-caused threats. Plastic ingestion causes blockage, perforation, and slow death — turtles with gut full of plastic starve despite apparently feeding. Bycatch entanglement in longline hooks or gillnets causes drowning or severe injury during prolonged struggling; surviving animals may have injuries that impair future diving and feeding. Beach disturbance during nesting — from artificial lighting, vehicle traffic, and direct human disturbance — disorients nesting females, disrupts successful egg-laying, and causes hatchlings to navigate toward artificial light rather than the sea. Climate change is altering beach temperatures, skewing sex ratios toward females (temperature determines sex in turtles). Each of these harms is preventable through specific management interventions.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic use — plastic bags are the most lethal item leatherbacks ingest
Support beach-darkening ordinances in nesting areas — artificial light causes massive hatchling disorientation
Choose seafood from fisheries with turtle exclusion devices (TEDs) in trawl nets
Donate to Leatherback Trust, Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network, and Pacific Leatherback programs
Advocate for longline fishing reforms including circle hooks that reduce sea turtle capture
Participate in or support beach monitoring programmes that protect nesting leatherback females