Pacific Leatherback Photo Gallery

Pacific leatherback sea turtles are at a high risk of extinction. We are working closely with our partners throughout the Pacific to protect and conserve this endangered species.

Endangered Species Conservation |

West Coast

International

The Pacific leatherback turtle is one of NOAA Fisheries' Species in the Spotlight. Pacific leatherbacks are genetically and biologically unique from the populations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. They migrate long distances across the Pacific Ocean from nesting to foraging (feeding) areas, and are generally larger than Atlantic leatherbacks.

Pacific leatherback populations have plummeted in recent decades—Western Pacific leatherbacks have declined by about 80 percent and Eastern Pacific leatherbacks have declined by more than 97 percent. Bycatch in fishing gear and extensive egg poaching are the primary causes of these declines.

Learn more about what we're doing to help these turtles recover.

Nesting leatherback turtle in Jamursba-Medi, on the north coast of Bird's Head Peninsula, Papua Barat, Indonesia.

Leatherback turtle covering her eggs in Jamursba Medi, Indonesia.

During one season, leatherback turtles typically nest at 8 to 12 day intervals and lay 80-95 tennis ball size eggs.

Leatherback turtle tracks on Jamursba Medi from an aerial survey perspective.

Screening a nest to protect from predators in Papua New Guinea.

Scanning leatherback turtle for tags on Papua New Guinea.

A leatherback turtle hatchling in Papua New Guinea.

Leatherback turtle hatchling crawling to the ocean in West Papua, Indonesia.

A village in Wau-Weyaf West Papua, Indonesia, after attending a leatherback turtle outreach program. Credit: Kartika Z...

Leatherback turtle close up of sharp, pointed cusps on their jaws which enable them to pierce and hold onto jellyfish.

Foraging leatherback turtle in Monterey Bay, California.

Leatherback turtle at surface foraging on jellyfish.

Inwater research project about to capture a leatherback to study their migration.

A leatherback turtle health assessment is conducted following capture.

A 607 kilogram leatherback turtle captured for tracking movement study off the central coast of California.

A leatherback turtle surfacing to take a breath. Leatherbacks can dive the deepest and longest of any sea turtle.

A leatherback turtle with time-depth recorded attached.

Last updated on 02/19/2021

Species in the Spotlight