De lederschildpad: spectaculaire nieuwe waarnemingen in Nederland en een statusoverzicht

This article describes new strandings and sightings of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the Netherlands and the general life history of this critically endangered species. New insights are discussed to explain the causes of its different status in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Leatherback turtles regularly visit the seas of the Northwest European Continental shelf. Occasionally this species is observed in The Netherlands and the oldest record is from 1777. Since 1961 another 20 leatherback observations and strandings have been recorded, plus three records in 2009. On September 20, 2009, a stranded leatherback was found near Huisduinen (52°57’N-04°42’E). A boat propeller had hit the turtle and one third of its carapace was missing. The curved carapace width was measured at 96 cm (straight carapace width 77 cm). On September 27, a live adult leatherback was observed near the island of Texel (52°58’N-04°43’E). This free-swimming sea turtle was 1 Op 16 december 2006 is deze diepte gemeten ten westen observed several times. At least there are confirmed records for September 28 and 30, and October 8 and 18. In the mean time an offshore cargo boat dragged a dead leatherback out of the North Sea (52°02’N-03°19’E) on October 7. This turtle was missing part of its head and the curved carapace length was measured at 140 cm (straight carapace length 130 cm).