Endangered Leatherback Turtle Found On Seal Beach

SEAL BEACH, CA — Residents and beachgoers were alarmed this week when an endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle was found on the shores of Seal Beach.

Sunset Beach resident John Gordon found the creature on Monday, at approximately 5:30 p.m. The turtle was intact but was visibly eaten in the back of its body and it was in stages of decomposition.

"His head was about as big as mine. He was an old beast," Gordon told the Orange County Register. "You could tell something had been gnawing on him. It was probably out there for more than a couple of days in the water."

42,000 square miles of marine habitat from Washington to California have been designated a critical habitat for the leatherback turtle since 2012, thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In 2016, a large 700-pound leatherback turtle was tangled in kelp and was saved by Dana Point Whale Watching crewman Jason Kunewa.

Capt Bo Daniel assisted Jason from the deck. Due to the heroic efforts of Kunewa, he was quickly able to cut it free from the massive kelp as you will see. Once freed, the Leatherback turtle quickly swam away out of sight.

Photo, courtesy Dana Point Whale Watching.