Leatherback Turtles are prehistoric & like most turtle species, are on the endangered list.
Sea Kayak Hong Kong’s latest conservation project is to help save the breeding ground (hatchery) of the Leatherback Turtle in Phang Nga Province, Thailand through our Ocean Education NGO, Ocean Literacy International HK
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world.
They are the only species of sea turtle that lack scales and a hard shell.
They are named for their tough rubbery skin and have existed in their current form since the age of the dinosaurs. Leatherbacks are highly migratory, some swimming over 10,000 miles a year between nesting and foraging grounds.
They are also accomplished divers with the deepest recorded dive reaching nearly 4,000 feet—deeper than most marine mammals.
It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys and the family Dermochelyidae.
The decline in numbers of the Pacific Leatherback Turtle is staggering, and without intervention, this amazing reptile will become extinct in the near future.
Beach erosion, caused by sea level rise, is taking away the sand necessary for the Leatherback turtles of Khaolak Beach to continue laying eggs.
Urgent help is required to create a semi-permanent solution to reduce beach erosion. Obviously no long term solution exists in this area if sea levels continue to rise, but the numbers of Pacific Leatherback Turtles have declined at such an alarming rate, that the trend has to be reversed aby any means possible.
How can you help? Simple come to paradise and dig in!
We are working with the Khaolak Orchid Beach Resort to develop multiple and innovative ways to protect the eroded beach habitat in the short term, and more traditional means in the medium term.
We have holiday packages that focus on conservation or have holiday packages that focus on recreation, but all assist in helping us protect the Leatherback Turtle habitat.
Khaolak Orchid Beach Resort
In the above image, the leatherback eggs, once laid, are surrounded by a protective shield to ensure the maximum number of eggs survive.
Our Ocean Literacy turtle conservation holiday packages here include a miriad of ocean and other water experiences.
We teach surfing (its a surf beach), we have amazing islands of the coast for diving, snorkeling, coral reef conservation and sea kayaking.
Behind us, we have mountains with rivers so you can try your hand at bamboo rafts, or for all you sea kayakers, time to have a go at some whitewater rafting and kayaking.
That will improve your sea kayaking skills.
But it’s the turtle habitat that has our attention and we will have a number of activities from plastic cleanups (the favourite food of the Leatherback is jellyfish!), to dune restoration and maybe sometime soon, helping to build offshore artificial reefs.
experience the complete water cycle
So, with COVID not abating in the short term, what can you do now?
Give us hope.
Plan ahead for 2022 / 23.
Contact us to make you part of the Leatherback Turtle’s future.
We can provide you with a heap of information about the turtle, the region, the sea kayaking and the conservation plan.
Fill in the form below to get information about your future amazing adventure holiday helping saving turtles and subscribe to our monthly update on what’s happening at Ocean Literacy International
