Each and every year,there occurs an event in Trinidad and Tobago that’s been going on for millenniums-the arrival of the majestic Leatherback turtles that come to lay their eggs on the sandy shores of our nations beaches
The Leatherback sea turtle is the largest of all living turtles and mature adults can reach lengths of up to seven feet and weigh as much as 2,000 pounds.They can dive to depths of 4,200 feet,deeper than many whales and can stay under water without coming up for air up to 85 minutes at a time.Truly remarkable! Their lifespan has been estimated to be between 40-45 years.
These ancient mariners of the deep seas travel thousands of miles,from as far north as Canada and as far east as Africa,enduring freezing water temperatures and other perils such as floating seaweed and fishing nets that can entangle them and predators such as sharks that want to have them for lunch!
After many months and under the cover of darkness,they arrive in T&T,hauling themselves out of the pounding surf onto mother earth.It can be a frightening experience for a young child to witness one of these massive creatures lumbering up to land.Indeed,it might even be scary for some adults!
The turtles return to the very same beach on which they were born,many moons ago.How they locate Trinidad and Tobago,two small islands in the vast Atlantic ocean is something to ponder and be in awe of.Would you be able to find your way back to T&T? Most likely you would need a GPS!
Our turtle watching season begins in March and extends to August. Over the course of these months,thousands of people comprising both locals and foreigners flock to various venues to witness this spectacular event.There are many beaches on which the turtles make an appearance,but some of the more popular ones which I have been to are Fishing Pond and Manzanilla on Trinidad’s east coast and Matura and Grand Riviere on the north.Leatherbacks are on the endangered species list and permits and guides are required during the nesting season to visit these protected areas.
The turtles first dig a shallow depression in the sand with both front and back flippers,then using only their back flippers,dig a much deeper hole to deposit their eggs.The females enter into a trance like state while laying and it is during this time that data may be collected for research purposes.Each female can lay up to 80-100 eggs at a time.When done,they again use their flippers to fill in the hole with sand.Below is a nice video of a Leatherback laying her eggs at Grand Riviere,Trinidad.
If you are ever lucky enough to observe one of them,go ahead and feel it’s bluish shell.It will have an almost rubbery feel to it(hence it’s name) and you will notice ridges running along its length which serves to give it a hydrodynamic advantage in the water,much like how modern day cars are streamlined to reduce drag(aerodynamics)
How you may wonder do they survive the ice cold waters of the Atlantic ocean? Well, unlike other turtles that have hard bony shells, a Leatherback’s shell is made up of thick layers of fat and skin which helps to insulate them against the cold.
One of the Leatherbacks favorite foods is jellyfish,which they consume in vast amounts. They also eat sea urchins, squid, fish, algae and floating seaweed-anything soft because they have delicate jaws that could be damaged easily
A fun fact about Leatherbacks-They cannot retract their heads and flippers into their shells like their freshwater cousins can.I am sure as a child growing up,you saw many cartoons on TV where a turtle did this!
Tips to keep in mind when turtle watching are:
Quick Facts
Have you ever seen a Leatherback turtle in real life? Let me know if you have! Questions and comments are welcomed as always and remember to follow my blog.Thanks!
Photo Credits:
2nd picture from top:Leviathan by Steve Garvey
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License
Hatchlings crawling to sea U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License
The Leatherback sea turtle is the largest of all living turtles and mature adults can reach lengths of up to seven feet and weigh as much as 2,000 pounds.They can dive to depths of 4,200 feet,deeper than many whales and can stay under water without coming up for air up to 85 minutes at a time.Truly remarkable! Their lifespan has been estimated to be between 40-45 years.
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| Leatherback Turtle Trinidad © All rights reserved |
After many months and under the cover of darkness,they arrive in T&T,hauling themselves out of the pounding surf onto mother earth.It can be a frightening experience for a young child to witness one of these massive creatures lumbering up to land.Indeed,it might even be scary for some adults!
The turtles return to the very same beach on which they were born,many moons ago.How they locate Trinidad and Tobago,two small islands in the vast Atlantic ocean is something to ponder and be in awe of.Would you be able to find your way back to T&T? Most likely you would need a GPS!
Our turtle watching season begins in March and extends to August. Over the course of these months,thousands of people comprising both locals and foreigners flock to various venues to witness this spectacular event.There are many beaches on which the turtles make an appearance,but some of the more popular ones which I have been to are Fishing Pond and Manzanilla on Trinidad’s east coast and Matura and Grand Riviere on the north.Leatherbacks are on the endangered species list and permits and guides are required during the nesting season to visit these protected areas.
The turtles first dig a shallow depression in the sand with both front and back flippers,then using only their back flippers,dig a much deeper hole to deposit their eggs.The females enter into a trance like state while laying and it is during this time that data may be collected for research purposes.Each female can lay up to 80-100 eggs at a time.When done,they again use their flippers to fill in the hole with sand.Below is a nice video of a Leatherback laying her eggs at Grand Riviere,Trinidad.
If you are ever lucky enough to observe one of them,go ahead and feel it’s bluish shell.It will have an almost rubbery feel to it(hence it’s name) and you will notice ridges running along its length which serves to give it a hydrodynamic advantage in the water,much like how modern day cars are streamlined to reduce drag(aerodynamics)
How you may wonder do they survive the ice cold waters of the Atlantic ocean? Well, unlike other turtles that have hard bony shells, a Leatherback’s shell is made up of thick layers of fat and skin which helps to insulate them against the cold.
One of the Leatherbacks favorite foods is jellyfish,which they consume in vast amounts. They also eat sea urchins, squid, fish, algae and floating seaweed-anything soft because they have delicate jaws that could be damaged easily
A fun fact about Leatherbacks-They cannot retract their heads and flippers into their shells like their freshwater cousins can.I am sure as a child growing up,you saw many cartoons on TV where a turtle did this!
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| Newborn baby turtles crawling to the ocean |
- Don’t shine any lights directly on them.
- No loud noises or talking.
- Give them ample space in which to nest.
- Touching under the permission of a guide is ok,but be very gentle.
- Female Leatherbacks between the ages of 6-10 mate every 2-3 years
- It takes about 1½-2 hours for the turtles to lay their eggs.Only about half of them will hatch.
- Baby turtles hatch in 60-65 days and are 2-3 inches long
- 1 out of 1,000 of the babies may survive long enough to return to Trinidad and Tobago
- World Turtle Day is celebrated each year throughout the world on May 23rd
Photo Credits:
2nd picture from top:Leviathan by Steve Garvey
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License
Hatchlings crawling to sea U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License
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