Leatherback turtles, known for their remarkable diving abilities, have once again surprised scientists with their deep-sea feeding habits. The Western Pacific leatherback turtle, which nests in the Solomon Islands, has set a new Guinness World Record by diving as deep as 1,344 meters to feed. This achievement breaks the previous record of 1,280 meters achieved by another leatherback turtle.
Scientists are using satellite data to monitor leatherback turtles and protect them from threats such as poaching and habitat destruction. One turtle even swam across the Pacific Ocean, leaving marine scientist Peter Waldie in charge of The Nature Conservancy’s Solomon Islands Program amazed. The deep dive and migration were described as “truly astonishing” and emphasized the special abilities of these creatures.
Leatherback turtles have evolved adaptations for deep diving, including the ability to hold their breath for longer periods and survive extreme pressures. These turtles spend most of their time at sea, only coming ashore briefly to lay eggs. The critically endangered Western Pacific population in the Solomon Islands is estimated to have around 1,400 breeding-age adults. Scientists have tagged 17 nesting leatherback turtles in the Solomon Islands for tracking purposes since 2022. However, more research is needed to understand their migration routes fully.
One remarkable turtle named “Uke Sasakolo” set a new deep diving record shortly after leaving its nesting site on March 25 by laying eggs on Sasakolo beach. Another turtle named “Aunty June” migrated eastward across the Pacific Ocean to a feeding area off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, surprising researchers with its journey. Continued research into these amazing creatures hopes to shed light on their migration routes and other fascinating behaviors they exhibit in their natural habitats.
