Leatherback Turtle
On March 30th as I was leaving Haulover Beach in North Miami a
friend informed me a gigantic turtle had crawled up on the north
end of the public beach to lay its eggs, and I should not miss the
opportunity to view it. I expected to see the more common species,
Loggerhead or Green Turtle.
I was totally surprised to see a turtle larger than I could imagine. A
group of 50 curious individuals were standing in amazement at the
size of this huge reptile. I was relieved to see the spectacular event
was being monitored by Selina Mills and a Mr. Ahearn, both of whom
work with Dade Park Service Aid/Sea Turtle Program. Selina indicated
the turtle was a Leatherback between 35 and 40 years old, weighing
between 800 and 1000 pounds. The endangered sea turtle crawled
onto the beach at about 2:45 PM . The turtle had laid its eggs and
was completing covering them with sand about 4:15 PM. Selina said
a leatherback turtle had not been seen nesting on a Miami beach
during the day since 2003. They don't return to lay their eggs until
maturity which is about 30 years of age. It was "awesome" to watch
the largest of all turtles finish covering her eggs and returning to the
ocean.
When I arrived home and searched the web I realized how truly rare
was the phenomenon I witnessed. There are only 3000 breeding
pairs of leatherback turtles left in the world. The survival of the
leatherback and sea turtles in general is dependant on turtle
reclamation programs, and for you and I to act as their eyes and
ears. Someone sighting a turtle nesting should contact their county
turtle program in order for them retrieve the eggs. After the eggs are
laid they must be guarded until someone from a Sea Turtle Programs
arrives. Fresh turtle eggs can easily be crushed by foot or beach
vehicles. Loss of habitat from development is the turtles number one
threat. Stacking high rise buildings next to one another on our
beaches creates wind tunnels that exacerbate erosion and is
destroying the turtles nesting opportunity.
There is an abundance of information on turtles here:
http://www.google.com/search?q=leatherback+turtles
Nesting Information: Nest at intervals of 2 to 3 years, though recent
research has indicated they can nest every year. Nests between 6 to
9 times per season, with an average of 10 days between nestings.
Lays an average of 80 fertilized eggs, the size of billiard balls, and 30
smaller, unfertilized eggs, in each nest. Eggs incubate for about 65
days. Unlike other species of sea turtles, leatherback females may
change nesting beaches, though they tend to stay in the same region.
friend informed me a gigantic turtle had crawled up on the north
end of the public beach to lay its eggs, and I should not miss the
opportunity to view it. I expected to see the more common species,
Loggerhead or Green Turtle.
I was totally surprised to see a turtle larger than I could imagine. A
group of 50 curious individuals were standing in amazement at the
size of this huge reptile. I was relieved to see the spectacular event
was being monitored by Selina Mills and a Mr. Ahearn, both of whom
work with Dade Park Service Aid/Sea Turtle Program. Selina indicated
the turtle was a Leatherback between 35 and 40 years old, weighing
between 800 and 1000 pounds. The endangered sea turtle crawled
onto the beach at about 2:45 PM . The turtle had laid its eggs and
was completing covering them with sand about 4:15 PM. Selina said
a leatherback turtle had not been seen nesting on a Miami beach
during the day since 2003. They don't return to lay their eggs until
maturity which is about 30 years of age. It was "awesome" to watch
the largest of all turtles finish covering her eggs and returning to the
ocean.
When I arrived home and searched the web I realized how truly rare
was the phenomenon I witnessed. There are only 3000 breeding
pairs of leatherback turtles left in the world. The survival of the
leatherback and sea turtles in general is dependant on turtle
reclamation programs, and for you and I to act as their eyes and
ears. Someone sighting a turtle nesting should contact their county
turtle program in order for them retrieve the eggs. After the eggs are
laid they must be guarded until someone from a Sea Turtle Programs
arrives. Fresh turtle eggs can easily be crushed by foot or beach
vehicles. Loss of habitat from development is the turtles number one
threat. Stacking high rise buildings next to one another on our
beaches creates wind tunnels that exacerbate erosion and is
destroying the turtles nesting opportunity.
There is an abundance of information on turtles here:
http://www.google.com/search?q=leatherback+turtles
Nesting Information: Nest at intervals of 2 to 3 years, though recent
research has indicated they can nest every year. Nests between 6 to
9 times per season, with an average of 10 days between nestings.
Lays an average of 80 fertilized eggs, the size of billiard balls, and 30
smaller, unfertilized eggs, in each nest. Eggs incubate for about 65
days. Unlike other species of sea turtles, leatherback females may
change nesting beaches, though they tend to stay in the same region.
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