![]() The Pacific population has declined by over 90% in the last two decades due primarily to entanglement in commercial fishing gear, particularly longlines and gill nets. Their eggs are also consumed in many parts of the world. They are mainly pelagic (open ocean) wanderers but migrate to tropical and subtropical coastal regions to mate and nest. In the Atlantic, they can be found as far north as Norway and the Arctic Circle and south to the tip of Africa. In the Pacific, their range extends as far north as Alaska and south beyond the southernmost tip of New Zealand. They are found throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Leatherbacks have the widest distribution of all sea turtle species. The oldest of all sea turtle species, it has been around for more than 150 million years! They survived the extinction of the dinosaurs and thrived until the last several decades when human interactions have taken a major toll. The average adult measures in between 5-6 feet (1.5 - 1.8 m) and weighs 600-800 pounds (270 - 360 kg). ![]() ![]() In addition to Kemp’s ridleys, wildlife experts have also discovered the threatened loggerhead sea turtles nesting on the islands.The largest of all sea turtles, and one of the largest reptiles on earth, the leatherback turtle ranges in size from 4-8 feet in length (1.2 - 2.4 meters) and weighs between 500-2,000 pounds (225 - 900 kg). Additional nests may be discovered in the weeks to come, according to the coastal authority. The peak of sea turtle nesting season runs from June through July, with most hatchlings beginning to emerge 50 to 60 days later. It’s an exciting discovery, and we hope to see additional hatchlings emerging in the weeks and years to come.” The coastal authority’s executive director, Bren Haase, added: “We have a responsibility to protect the wildlife here, and that means creating safe and nourishing environments for these turtles and other animals that call Louisiana home. “We are gaining a better understanding of the benefits this barrier island restoration may provide in the recovery of this endangered species across the Gulf of Mexico.” “It is well known that the Chandeleur Islands provide key habitats for a host of important species however, with the recent discovery of a successful Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatching, the islands’ value to the region has been elevated,” said the wildlife and fisheries department’s secretary, Jack Montoucet. The effort involves replenishing and protecting various marine life that have been affected by the oil spill. As a result, the coastal authority and Louisiana’s wildlife and fisheries department have been closely monitoring the islands since May as part of a regional effort to restore them. The BP oil spill resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion significantly affected the Chandeleur Islands, along with various hurricanes and other tropical weather systems in recent years. Having this knowledge now allows us to make sure these turtles and other wildlife return to our shores year after year.” He added: “As we develop and implement projects statewide, we are always keeping in mind what’s needed to preserve our communities and enhance wildlife habitat. “Louisiana was largely written off as a nesting spot for sea turtles decades ago, but this determination demonstrates why barrier island restoration is so important,” said the coastal authority’s chairman, Chip Kline. The recent discovery of the hatchlings in Louisiana is particularly significant as 95% of the nesting take place in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Some of the major threats Kemp’s ridleys face include being caught unintentionally by fishers, being harvested or having their eggs harvested, degradation of their nesting habitats, natural predators preying on their eggs and hatchlings, being struck by sea vessels, ocean pollution and climate change. ![]() However, from the mid-1900s to the 1980s, their population dropped drastically, reaching a low of only several hundred females. Their population flourished during the early 1900s as tens of thousands of females nested in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico. The turtles are predominantly found in the Gulf, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The news was particularly uplifting for environmentalists because the hatchlings were Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, an endangered species that also happens to be the world’s smallest sea turtle.
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