Leatherback Turtles Nest Again in Panama After Nearly a Decade

Panama's Pacific coast has witnessed the return of the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle, with nesting activity recorded for the first time in nearly a decade. The Ministry of Environment confirmed that at least three of the world's largest marine turtles laid eggs on the remote El Fondiaderito beach in Darién province.

This nesting event is particularly significant as leatherback populations have drastically declined. Experts estimate a 95% collapse in some Pacific regions since the 1980s. In Panama, the last recorded nest for this species was in 2017 in the central province of Veraguas. The discovery of new nests holds invaluable scientific importance.

Local residents, members of the Sea Turtle Protection and Biodiversity Organization of Jaqué, along with environmental ministry technicians, took immediate action to safeguard the nests. They carefully relocated 178 eggs to a protected incubation nursery. These eggs are expected to hatch between September and October, offering a glimmer of hope for the species' survival in the region.