A rare sighting has put the southwest of Tenerife: company guides and observers Bonadea II They recorded the passage of a leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), considered the largest sea turtle on the planet.
The specimen, described as a oceanic colossus, could overcome the two meters in length and overtake with ease the 600 kilosThe meeting took place in an area known for its extraordinary marine diversity, where pelagic conditions favor the presence of large migrators.
An unusual giant in the Canary Islands
The leatherback turtle is distinguished by a flexible, dark, leathery shell, crossed by several longitudinal grooves. Unlike turtles with rigid shells, this anatomy gives it agility and endurance to cross thousands of kilometers across the Atlantic.
Their presence on the islands is rare but known: the archipelago functions as strategic crossing point during their long-range migratory routes, in which they alternate great journeys with feeding times.
The diet of the species is focused almost entirely on Jellyfish, so it acts as a natural regulator of the ecosystem. This paper is crucial in scenarios of increased gelatinous proliferations related to climate change y overfishing.
For teams working at sea, events like this provide valuable information on the state of the northeast Atlantic and migration patterns. The local scientific community celebrates the discovery with caution, aware that these appearances also reflect the vulnerability of the species.
Conservation status and ongoing responses
The leatherback turtle figure Endangered in the IUCN Red List, not in the highest threat category. Among the factors that most affect it are the accidental capture in arts such as longlines or driftnets, the ingestion of plastics which is confused with prey and the loss of nesting beaches due to coastal pressure.
In the Canary Islands, measures are being reinforced sustainable fishing and collaboration with the sector, protocols are applied to reduce the bycatch and actions are developed sensitization on marine debris. The wildlife recovery centers They deal with stranding cases and release specimens in safe conditions.
Recommendations for sailors and coastal users include maintaining prudent distances In the event of any sighting, do not attempt to manipulate the animal and notify the emergency services or to the stranding net if you see an injured or entangled turtle.
Over 100 million years of evolutionary history, the lute is a true icon of the great sea travelers and a status indicator of ocean ecosystems. Their conservation requires coordinated initiatives at regional and global scales.
The sighting in the southwest of Tenerife, documented by Bonadea II, puts the spotlight on an exceptional visitor and reminds us of the importance of protect their routes, contain the threats it faces, and continue to strengthen the science and management that allow these giants to continue crossing our seas.
