Around the world in 80 animals - Leatherback Sea Turtle

Thanks to their endangered status, I might not be lucky enough to see any Leatherback Sea Turtles during my circumnavigation despite their range covering most of the Clipper Race route. Still, fingers crossed - they saw one in the 13-14 Race!

Leatherback Sea Turtle fast facts

Type: Reptile
Diet: Carnivore
Average life span in the wild: 45 years (est.)
Size: Up to 7 ft (2 m)
Weight: Up to 2,000 lbs (900 kg)
Protection status: Endangered

Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

Did you know? The largest leatherback ever found was an 8.5-ft-long (2.6-m-long) male weighing 2,020 lbs (916 kg) that washed up on the west coast of Wales in 1988.

Did you know? Leatherbacks can dive to depths of 4,200 feet (1,280 meters) — deeper than any other turtle — and can stay down for up to 85 minutes