Hug This Animal: Leatherback Turtle

The leatherback turtle, a species that’s more than a hundred million years old, is facing extinction.

Leatherback turtles are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. Fewer than 2,300 adult females remain in the Pacific region, making the Pacific leatherback the most endangered of marine turtles. Leatherback turtles live as far south as Africa and as far north as Alaska. The global population estimate is around 40,000.

Why are leatherback turtles in trouble?

• Egg stealing (heavy demand in Latin America)

• Death by fishing nets (bycatch)

• Pollution (Plastic bags kill turtles who mistake them for jellyfish. Chemicals from plastics are also found in turtle egg yolks.)

How to Help

Take your own bags to the store. Plastic bags create a horrible amount of pollution that is greatly affecting wildlife. Not to mention, it takes petroleum to make plastic bags. Recycled paper bags are a better choice if you forget your own bags.

Adopt a sea turtle nest!

Learn more at the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

And please spread the word about the problems facing the largest sea turtles.

Image via flickr.