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In the video below, the fascinated tourists look on in astonishment as a giant leatherback turtle sits in the sand.
One man with a camera excitedly snaps away at the incredible sight as the huge reptile uses its flippers in order to crawl through the sand going towards the sea.
After the turtle made a few strong pushes, as well as a couple of rest breaks, the leatherback riches the lapping waves and pushes itself into the sea until it disappears.
The video, which is filmed in a location which is now known, was uploaded to Facebook by a Detroit DJ, Robin Michael with the caption: “The biggest turtle I have ever seen!”
Leatherbacks are actually the largest turtles on the planet, which grow up to seven feet long and exceed 2,000 pounds. These reptilian relics are actually the only remaining representatives of a family of turtles which evolutionary roots come from more than 100 million years ago.
The leatherback population, which was once prevalent in every ocean, with the exception of the Arctic and Antarctic, is rapidly declining in many parts of the world.
A decline in the population of the creature has also seen several conservation laws crop up in countries all over the world.
The turtles particularly inhabit the Atlantic and Pacific oceans near the equatorial line with a lot of them to be found off the coast of Central America.
The reason why the reptiles crawl out of the water at the time of nesting season is to dig nests, as well as lay their golf ball-sized eggs in the sand.
Concerned about the future of this species, conservation groups have become involved. They truly hope to preserve these amazing turtles for the years that are coming.
Take a moment and reflect on the current situation of these creatures. What is your personal opinion about them? Do they have to be considered an endangered species?
What do you think conservation groups can do in order to preserve the species? How do you think leatherback turtles have managed to survive when most other species of turtle from 100 million years ago are extinct?
Featured Image Credit: Wikipedia
