Leatherback Turtle nested on beach in the BVI
Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN-BVI) - Thursday, May 12th, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Leatherback turtle disguising her nest of recently laid eggs
Yesterday,May 11 at 10:30pm 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.
The turtle, named Dorna, was 4 ft in width, 5 ft 7 in in length. Her head alone at its widest point was 1 ½ ft with a flipper length of 3 ft.
Assistant Marine Biologist of the Conservation and Fisheries Department Joel Dore, noted that the turtle probably weighs around 1000 pounds.
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.
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.
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.
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4 Comments
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Great work you all!
I would like to know if the size is for real or it is an error made
@, That’s around the normal weight of a leatherback turtle that size.
@, Yes the size is correct. Check out the organisation’s facebook page (www.facebook.com/CYEN.BVI) for more pictures in order to get a better idea of the size of this turtle.
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