Most DVBC members at the Waratah Bay base Camp were able to witness an extremely unusual occurrence by getting a good look at a dead Leatherback Turtle that washed up on the beach at Waratah bay. Leatherback Turtles are the largest of all turtle species growing up to 1.75 metres long and weighing 500 kg. Our turtle at about 1.2 metres was very much a youngster. Compared to other marine turtles they have a wide distribution worldwide, and are the only species that inhabit colder southern Australian ocean waters such as in Bass Strait. Unlike other turtles and other reptiles Leatherback Turtles are ‘warm-blooded’, that is they are capable of raising their body temperature up to 18⁰C higher than the water temperature around them. Unfortunately these ancient turtles which have evolutionary roots dating back more than 100 million years (the time of the Dinosaurs) are now listed as critically endangered due entirely to human activities. The premature death of our turtle was probably from ingestion of plastic bags mistaking them for their favourite food, jellyfish.
notes & photos by Andrew
