Trinidad an Tobago The Leatherback Turtle
The leatherback Turtle Dermochelys coriacea, largest of all marine turtles, nests on beaches in both Trinidad and Tobago. The turtles nesting period is roughly March to August with greatest numbers seen along the north and east coasts of Trinidad. In the past many turtles were killed as they came ashore at night to lay their eggs.
However in recent times the inhabitants of villages in the vicinity of the nesting beaches have come to appreciate the tourism potential of the nesting turtles and mount regular patrols to assist in the protection of this globally threatened species. The female leatherback can weigh up to 900 kg, and will lay three to four batches of eggs per season, each nest containing 65-130 eggs..
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