Leatherback Turtles Breeding Season the Ancient Cycle of Life

Leatherback Turtles Breeding Season the Ancient Cycle of Life

November  in iSimangaliso Wetland Park heralds the beginning of one of the most special and awe-inspiring miracles of this world heritage site – the nesting of endangered turtles on the 220km golden shoreline. Annually, between the months of November and March, heralds the start of the leatherback turtles breeding season.

In this most ancient cycle of life, turtles return with almost magical accuracy to the very same beach where they hatched. The leatherback and loggerhead turtles haul their massive bodies out of the Indian Ocean and up to the base of the dunes, to lay their eggs.

Of the seven species of marine turtles worldwide, iSimangaliso’s protected coastline has five species, and its pristine beaches comprise one of the last significant laying sites in Africa for loggerheads and leatherbacks.

Turtle monitoring has been undertaken in the Park since the 1960’s, with turtles being measured and tagged. The leatherback turtles breeding season is the most important time for conservationists and park officials. The turtles of iSimangaliso have received significant conservation attention, producing a noteworthy increase in the loggerhead turtle population.

leatherback turtles breeding season
Image Source: Gwynne Howells iSimangaliso

“With less than 100 laying females coming ashore each year, iSimangaliso’s leatherback turtles, the most southern population in the world, are rarer than black rhino and critically endangered.

This means they could go extinct in our lifetime. Having survived aeons and ice ages along with rhinos, and at a time when over 1000 biological species are going extinct globally every year, their future survival lies with all of us,” said iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis. “As site managers, our challenge is that once they leave our shores and swim across the high seas, they undertake epic journeys, travelling as far as Australia and India.

During these journeys, which occur between nesting periods, the leatherbacks spend their time foraging. They feed on pelagic (open ocean) invertebrates such as jellyfish and this makes them extremely vulnerable to threats such as long line fishing methods and pollution.

Plastic bags are often mistaken for jellyfish by these feeding animals, ultimately killing the animals that ingest them.”

Summery statistics for Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles nesting in iSimangaliso
LOGGERHEADS LEATHERBACKS
Population Size 700 females per season 70 females per season
Population trend Increasing Stable
Size (average shell length) 86cm 160cm
Diet of adult turtles crabs, snails and starfish jellyfish
Age to sexual maturity 36 years 12 years
Breeding frequency (number of years between nesting seasons) 3 years 3 years
Reproductive lifespan (number of years between first and last nesting) 18 years 16 years
Number of eggs per female over a nesting season 390 eggs 700 eggs
Emergence success (percentage eggs that produce viable hatchlings) 80% 70%
Number of hatchlings produced per female per season 300 hatchlings 480 hatchlings
Total hatchlings produced per year 63 000-144 000 36 000-52 000

Have you experienced first hand the leatherback turtles breeding season? Seeing this miracle of nature is a moving experience, share with us your experience the largest of all living turtles.

Article by guest author Gwynne Howells, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.


44 responses to “Leatherback Turtles Breeding Season the Ancient Cycle of Life”

  1. please send me a email at tropico@safe-mail.net – im so lonely
    and i need company!

    Hi there! Thiis is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of voluinteers and
    starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
    Your blog provided uus beneficial information to worek on.You have done a outstanding
    job!

  2. What I in fact care most in regard to is wellness topics.
    By myself, I subscribe to magazines oriented toward this subject, and I preserve informed about the most recent wellness studies.

    Just how is this of any use? Personally I think there’s no more important emphasis for my hours.
    Moreover, this blog seems as though it’s well worth my time to read.
    I sift through thousands or even more of personal blogs every week.
    Honestly, my spine almost always hurts and I need a brand-new pursuit.
    lol Anyway, I think if everybody wrote about their niche in existence,
    and did it articulately, we’d have a more cool Cyberspace. http://www.pand.li/massage_party_5909470

  3. That is a really good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere.
    Short but very precise info… Thanks for sharing this
    one. A must read post!

  4. Your blog has definitely furnished me with
    just the information that I needed. I just have recently been undertaking homework on this kind of theme for a while, and this has taken a very
    long while to discover a website that delivers all the info which i will need.

    We glimpse toward examining even more blogs written by you later on, and will certainly search
    right here primarily the very next time I actually have a research study. http://kids-spa-party-nj.njmassage.info/

  5. Going through your brilliant blog has offered me with only
    the info that I required. We currently have been doing study on this matter for quite a while, and this has taken a very long
    while to find a blog page that gives all of the info i want.
    I glimpse toward studying more blogs written by you later on,
    and will start looking here primarily next time I actually have got another research project. http://souforum.com/

  6. First, thank you for the info, and your perception. I could enjoy this blog and
    most importantly this post. At this point, I feel
    I misuse much too much time over the internet, browsing
    rubbish, effectively. This was a refreshing change from what I’ve known. However,
    I believe perusing other people’s good ideas is a valuable investment of at minimum a few of my
    regular allotment of amount of time in my routine.
    It’s just like rummaging throughout the chaff to find the treasure.
    Or, whatever illustration works for you. Still, near the desktop
    computer is probably as bad for you as tobacco and fried potato chips. http://www.repcheckr.com/reviews/njmassages.com

  7. First of all I want to say excellent blog! I had a quick
    question in which I’d like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested
    to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts
    before writing. I have had a tough time clearing
    my mind in getting my thoughts out. I do enjoy writing however it
    just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually
    lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any
    recommendations or hints? Many thanks!

  8. Going through your brilliant blog has surely furnished me with only the data that I
    just needed. We currently have been undertaking analysis on this kind of subject matter for a short time,
    and it has taken a very long while to find a weblog that provides all the data i require.
    I actually take a look forward to browsing more blogs authored by you in the future, and
    definitely will take a look right here primarily the next time I just have
    another research study. https://massage-at-home-nj.blogspot.com/2013/07/massage-and-anxiety-managing-anxiety.html

  9. Thanks for a marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it,
    you’re a great author. I will make certain to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back down the road.
    I want to encourage one to continue your great work, have a
    nice evening!

  10. I becamе honored to receive a call coming from a friend immediately he found tthe important points shareԀ on yіur
    own site. Browsing your blog publication is a real excellent
    experience. Thanks again for taking into consiԁeration readers аt all like me, and I want for yօu the besst of aсhieᴠements as being a professional in this topic.

  11. This is very interesting, You’re an excessively professional blogger.
    I’ve joined your rss feed and stay up for seeking extra of your fantastic
    post. Additionally, I’ve shared your site in my social networks

  12. Привет!!! Мне нужно задать вопрос совершенно не по теме;) Пжл, подскажите, не знаете ли вы,
    как сделать так, чтобы сайт нормально отображался на
    мобильных телефонах? Мой блог выглядит очень странно,
    когда заходишь на него с iphone
    5… Я хочу найти плагин, который поможет
    решить эту проблему!!! Есть у вас какие-нибудь варианты решения?

    Мерси)

  13. Hello terrific website! Does running a blog such as this require a great deal of work?
    I have very little knowledge of computer programming however I had been hoping to start my own blog in the near
    future. Anyhow, should you have any suggestions or tips for new blog owners please share.
    I know this is off subject however I simply had to ask. Many
    thanks!

  14. An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this
    onto a co-worker who was doing a little research on this.
    And he in fact ordered me dinner due to the fact that I discovered it for him…

    lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanx for spending time to discuss this matter here on your web page.

  15. Thanks , I have just been looking for info approximately this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve came upon till
    now. However, what about the bottom line? Are you sure in regards to the source?

  16. you’re in reality a excellent webmaster.
    The web site loading pace is amazing. It seems that you
    are doing any distinctive trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece.
    you have performed a magnificent activity on this topic!

  17. I like the helpful information you supply for your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your blog and test again here frequently. I’m somewhat sure I’ll be informed many new stuff
    proper right here! Good luck for the next!

  18. Hi. I see that you don’t update your page too often. I know
    that writing posts is boring and time consuming.
    But did you know that there is a tool that allows
    you to create new posts using existing content (from article directories or other pages
    from your niche)? And it does it very well. The new
    posts are high quality and pass the copyscape test.

    You should try miftolo’s tools

  19. My developer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
    I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong
    none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on numerous websites for about a year and am anxious about switching to another platform.
    I have heard great things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I
    can import all my wordpress content into it? Any
    kind of help would be really appreciated!

  20. I have noticed you don’t monetize your site, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn extra bucks every month.
    You can use the best adsense alternative for any type of website (they approve
    all websites), for more details simply search
    in gooogle: boorfe’s tips monetize your website

  21. Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you, However I am encountering difficulties with your RSS.
    I don’t understand why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there
    anybody else having identical RSS issues? Anyone that knows
    the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  22. Ꮋi there, You’ѵe ɗone a fantastic job. I’ll ceгtainly digg
    it and personally recommend t᧐ mү friends. І’m confident they wilⅼ
    Ьe benefited fr᧐m thgis site.

  23. Hi, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues.
    When I look at your website in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
    I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, awesome blog!

  24. By buying from a web based store you are able to purchase
    from the convenience of your individual dwelling, this is an excellent advantage for males trying to find sexy lingerie as a present as many feel embarrassed when looking round
    ladies excessive road stores for that particular
    someone. This manner you are able to take your time in choosing the proper present and
    shock your companion with a gift you could both enjoy.

    This way a girl not only gets rid of all the fear and
    ideas of the best way to go to a shop and ask for lingeries and which shop to decide on to get the
    best sort of lingerie. Get exclusive model, beauty and lifestyle suggestions
    and secrets and techniques every day. Crafted with meticulous consideration to
    element, every piece mirrors the magnificence and elegance of real
    flowers however presents the benefit of sturdiness and longevity.
    Their numerous vary obtainable presents you the very latest designs at primarily the most
    competitive costs, enabling every lady on the market
    to purchase from the unbelievable range available.
    No matter dimension or form you might also be there’s
    now a huge vary of raunchy underwear accessible
    to reinforce your confidence and desirability.
    1) Access: You’ll have the proper to entry or request a
    duplicate of the non-public Data we’re collecting,
    utilizing, or disclosing about you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.