| Leatherback Turtle [Dermochelys coriacea] is | | | | Leatherback Turtles are the largest living marine |
| listed as Critically Endangered (facing an extremely | | | | reptiles and live almost their entire lives at sea. |
| high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate | | | | The only time that they are on land is when the |
| future). In South Africa, Leatherback Turtles are | | | | female turtles lay eggs, and when hatchlings |
| fully protected under the KwaZulu Natal Nature | | | | emerge from the nest and make their way to |
| Conservation Management Act. | | | | ocean. |
| The Leatherback turtle has a unique system of | | | | Leatherback Turtles are one of the most |
| blood supply to bones and cartilage. This enables | | | | migratory of all marine turtle species, making |
| their body temperature to stay several degrees | | | | trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific crossings. They are |
| above the water temperature and allows them to | | | | easily distinguished by their carapace, which is |
| tolerate cold water. They can dive to depths of | | | | leathery (not hard as in other turtles) and by their |
| up to 1,200 meters much deeper than any other | | | | long front flippers. |
| marine turtle. | | | | The Leatherback Turtle eats only Jellyfish. |
| Most widely distributed of all sea turtles. Found | | | | The Leatherback Turtle are primarily found in the |
| world wide with the largest north and south range | | | | open ocean, as far north as Alaska and as far |
| of all the sea turtle species. Leatherback Turtles | | | | south as the southern tip of Africa. |
| are present throughout the Indian Ocean and are | | | | The leatherback's size is 5.2 meters in length. |
| not uncommon in the pelagic zone around South | | | | The leatherback's weight up to to 500 kg. |
| Africa. They tend to stay away from the near | | | | The females come ashore in bands and lay their |
| shore zone and are capable of tolerating | | | | 60 to 100 eggs in holes that have been dug in the |
| extremely cold water during feeding movements. | | | | sand. Seven weeks later, when the eggs hatch, |
| Leatherback Turtles are known to frequent the | | | | the babies rush back to the water. |
| cold southern ocean as far as 600 km south of | | | | See the Leatherback Turtle before they are |
| Cape Agulhus and are often recorded in the | | | | gone. |
| Benguela Current area of the West Coast. | | | | |