Inside the life of the 2,000-pound Leatherback Sea Turtle

The ocean conceals species so fantastical that they may just belong in mythology, but the leatherback sea turtle fits the bill. As heavy as an automobile and migrating through hundreds of kilometers of open water, the docile animal has persevered for more than 100 million years. However, despite its toughness, its existence still hangs by a thin thread and depends upon the condition of the environment around it. Its fascinating physique and incredible migrations all show how nature can endure and adapt in even the toughest marine conditions. Yet today, human-driven threats like plastic pollution, climate change, and fishing nets are testing the limits of this ancient survivor’s resilience.Dermochelys coriacea, also known as the leatherback sea turtle, is considered the largest living turtle species, with a length of 2.4 meters and an average weight of about 900 kilograms (around 2,000 pounds). According to National Geographic, “It is distinguished from all other turtles by having a flexible leathery skin rather than a hard shell.” This distinctive feature serves a purpose. The animal’s elongated body, equipped with ridges, minimises drag while moving through water over long oceanic distances. According to researchers, under the skin there is bone material and a large amount of fats, which helps the animal adapt to colder water environments.Leatherbacks can be rightly called wanderers of the oceans. According to studies carried out by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, leatherback sea turtles travel the farthest distances of all marine animals, covering more than 10,000 kilometers on their way from breeding grounds to feeding spots.However, their capabilities are not limited to this. Leatherbacks are also excellent divers that are able to plunge into the water at an incredible depth of over 1,200 meters and stay underwater for almost 85 minutes at a time. It is due to special adaptations that they possess such unique characteristics, such as efficient blood circulation and thermoregulation.As it comes to their food preferences, leatherbacks eat jellyfish that they catch thanks to special sharp jaws and spines located in their throats.Although they grow up to be massive and robust animals, leatherbacks start out as incredibly fragile beings. Adult females will leave their home in the ocean waters only to dig holes on beaches where they will deposit approximately 80 to 100 eggs into nests before heading back into the ocean.Unfortunately, only a small percentage will ever grow up to be adults due to predation and threats from humans. Currently, leatherbacks are facing numerous risks. Some of the major ones include plastic pollution because their diet includes jellyfish which often resembles pieces of plastic that they will end up swallowing. Others include fishing nets, urbanization and climate change. Experts agree that there are declining numbers of leatherbacks in some areas of the world because of these factors, especially in the Pacific Ocean region. Overall, studies suggest that the leatherback sea turtle is much more than just an interesting animal; it is a great environmental indicator of the ocean environment.