Gigantic Leatherback Looks Prehistoric as It Enters the Ocean

Nature can be big as well as beautiful and the leatherback turtles are magnificent examples of nature at her most impressive! These giants of the seas often grow to between four and seven feet in diameter and can weigh between 650 and 1,100 pounds. There are some individuals who grow even bigger and these are probably one the most intimidating things that you will ever see on a beach! A video currently taking the web by storm captures a particularly huge leatherback turtle making its way very slowly back into the sea.

Watch This Video of a Giant Leatherback Entering the Ocean!

Turtles are ocean-living creatures but they have to breathe air. They need to surface at least every 45 minutes but when they are resting they can hold their breath for as long as seven hours! Their large front flippers are designed to propel their massive weight through the water and they look quite graceful when they are in the sea. Once on land, however, the same flippers are not so great at moving that enormous body across the sand and their progress, as seen in this video, is painstakingly slow. Can you imagine taking a nap on the beach and waking up to find this creature next to you? No wonder it drew such a crowd.

We are not told exactly where this footage was taken but it is clearly a holiday destination as swimming costume-clad tourists gather to watch this magnificent animal enter the waves. There are several different types of sea turtles including the leatherback, loggerhead, and flatback. They are found in all the world’s oceans apart from the edges of the Arctic and Antarctic.

The largest turtle ever recorded is a leatherback that was washed ashore on a beach in Wales, UK in 1988 having become tangled in fishing nets. It was over nine feet in length and weighed over 2,019 pounds. Experts estimated that it was around 100 years old and its body is on display in a museum.  

Sea turtles will usually only come onto the shore to nest and lay eggs. This is the most likely reason for the leatherback in this video to have come ashore. However, they will sometimes bask on beaches to raise their body temperature. This is a type of thermoregulation (control of body temperature) used by ectothermic animals – often called cold-blooded because they rely on the environment to control their body temperature. Turtles are more likely to bask on beaches if the water temperature is cold, it helps their digestion and boosts their immunity.

Most of the humans in this footage are following the advice on what to do if you spot a turtle on a shore. They are standing well back and keeping a respectful distance. Everyone is so relieved when this beauty eventually reaches the crashing waves and heads out into the ocean.

You Won’t Want to Miss These Videos of Other Giants From the Ocean:

• Fisherman Reels in Massive Hammerhead from Florida Beach
• Massive Hammerhead Shark Circles Clueless Swimmer
• Discover the Biggest Hammerhead Ever Caught Off Florida

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/YasserBadr_Beenthere