Wildlife lovers in Devon were stunned to spot a leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) off the coast.
Although incredibly exciting, this special sighting isn’t entirely unheard of. “Last year 35 turtles were reported in UK and Irish waters and 10 of those were leatherback turtles,” says Marine Conservation Society (MCS) who shared footage of the prehistoric creature on Instagram.
The video was so spectacular that some people wondered whether it might be AI generated. But MCS confirms that it’s real. “It is almost so unbelievable that it seems like it could be AI, doesn’t it?” the charity says in response to a comment.
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There are seven species of sea turtle and leatherbacks are the largest of them all. Adults can grow over two metres long. “The world's largest leatherback turtle was found here in the UK,” says MCS. “It was spotted by a member of the public at Harlech, Wales in 1988.”
Leatherbacks migrate further than any reptile on Earth, covering thousands of miles between their nesting and feeding grounds. This can bring them into UK seas so there’s no need to be alarmed for this individual.
"We’ve had a few concerned comments wondering if this is a bad thing,” says MCS. "Leatherback turtles are adapted to cope with colder waters and are regular visitors to our coast in the summer months as they come to feed on jellyfish.”
If you’re fortunate enough to see a leatherback in UK seas, it’s important to take steps not to stress the animal, says MCS: “Keep a good distance of 100m and if it approaches you, maintain a steady speed (if you're in the water) and allow it to interact on its own terms.”
You can also register your wildlife sighting to help research and conservation efforts.
More wildlife stories from around the UK
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