The world's biggest turtle has nested in Las Tunas!

For the first time, the nesting of a Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) has been recorded on the beach of the Comuna Ancestral Las Tunas, Manabí, Ecuador.

This turtle species is the largest in the world, reaching a length of more than 2 meters and weighing 900 kg. It nests in cycles of 2 to 4 years, so this event is quite rare.

"It was a big surprise when we got to the nesting site. We saw the giant footprints, which looked like heavy machinery "(photos), said Byron Delgado, the manager of our Ayampe reserve, with great emotion. Now 4 species of turtles nest on the beach of Comuna Las Tunas!: Green Turtle (EN), Hawksbill Sea Turtle (CR), Olive Ridley Turtle (VU), and the gigantic Leatherback Sea Turtle (VU).

Our Jocotoco project that involves monitoring and protection of sea turtles in Ayampe begun last year with the support of the British Embassy Quito. The sea turtle nests are monitored and fenced off so that the hatching process runs its course.