Big leatherback turtle colony discovered

Leatherback sea turtles may not be as endangered as scientists once thought.

It was recently discovered that Gabon, West Africa has a previously unknown colony of the turtles nesting on its beaches.

University of Exeter Professor Matthew Witt, who supervised the research, stated that Gabon beaches were used for nesting by the leatherback sea turtles.

It was not known how many turtles lived there, but it is estimated that between 15,730 and 41,373 female turtles may be nesting in the area, making it the world’s largest population.

Witt went on to say that now scientists are aware of Gabon’s importance to the sea turtle, further efforts need to be made to protect the newly discovered colonies from habitat and pollution disturbances, as well as nest poaching and illegal fisheries.

The leatherback turtle first entered the critically endangered list between 1980 and 1990 when the International Union for Conservation of Nature thought the world population of females only numbered around 34,000, a 90% drop in numbers.

According to the Wildlife Conservation Study, most of the remaining leatherback sea turtles outside of the newly discovered turtles in the Gabon area, live in National Parks or other protected areas such as zoos or wildlife preserves.

The Gabon discovery will change the numbers, but outside of this area 79% of nesting sea turtles live in protected areas.

The WFC will aim to gain protection for the beach areas of Gabon, West Africa as well.