Public gets glimpse of Leatherback Turtle
Members of CYEN-BVI posing with Leatherback turtle.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Members of the BVI Chapter of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN-BVI) and the public were able to witness a leatherback turtle coming ashore at a beach on the north side of Tortola on Thursday, May 11, 2011.
The event occurred at 10:30 pm.
According to the CYEN-BVI press release, the turtle, named Dorna, was 4 feet in width, 5 feet 7 inches length. Her head alone at its widest point was 1 ½ feet with a flipper length of 3 feet.
Assistant Marine Biologist of the Conservation and Fisheries Department, Joel Dore noted that the turtle could easily have weighed 1000 pounds if not more. For this particular turtle, it was her 6th time nesting for the season, which began in March of this year. (She was spotted laying her first nest of eggs in late March.)
Leatherback turtle disguising her nest of recently laid eggs.
This particular turtle is no stranger to nesting on BVI beaches as she was spotted laying her first nest of eggs in late March of this year, and has been in the BVI turtle database since 2003, the release added.
Historically, leatherback turtles (locally known as trunks) were captured and killed primarily for their oil, which is believed to cure a number of respiratory ails. Their nests were also poached as their eggs were considered a delicacy. These actions on a local and global scale have caused trunk populations to diminish to a level where they are now considered critically endangered. In an effort to monitor the local nesting population of trunks, the Conservation and Fisheries Department launched a turtle monitoring programme in 1989, which continues to this date.
Dorna, the nesting trunk was monitored for over two hours to ensure that she completed nesting and returned safely to the sea.
For more information and pictures of Dorna, please visit our facebook page at www.facebook.com/CYEN.BVI.
6 Responses to “Public gets glimpse of Leatherback Turtle”
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The leatherback turtle is a remarkable creature. There are so many predators in the sea, that only about 1 out of every 1000 baby sea turtles survives to adulthood. They can grow to a length of 6 to 7 feet and fully matured adults weigh in around 1,500 to 2000 pounds ~ if left in peace.
The females almost always return to their own birthplace to lay their eggs, so Dorna is in effect a true British Virgin Islander!
I am so glad that people were there to ensure that she returned safely to the sea and did not meet the same fate as another nesting female leatherback on this exact date (May 12) last year in Josiah’s Bay. I will never understand why anyone would do such a thing to a CRITICALLY ENDANGERED animal. These docile creatures are the largest reptiles on Earth. They can dive to a depth of 4,200 feet ~ which is simply amazing!
The eggs take about 75 days to hatch. I do hope the nest will be left unmolested and that at least one of the babies is permitted to grow old enough to return to our shores and continue the cycle of life.
Bravo: you said it all.
Hi Dan – thnaks for your comments/posts and thoughts throughout 2011. Your posts are consistently timely/relevant and thoughtful.Hope you have an awesome holiday season and a great 2012!!George
wow, he big too sa!!!
Well said… I hope with some degree of awareness the beaches throughout the territory can be a safe breathing haven for Dorna and many other endangered turtles.
For the love of God, keep wriitng these articles.