Dead turtle found on West Point beach

Believed to be a leatherback, it has been sent to the Atlantic Veterinary College for necropsy

The carcass of a large turtle, believed to be an endangered leatherback, was collected from the MacDonald’s Shore Beach in West Point Monday for transport to the Atlantic Veterinary College so a necropsy can be performed.

A provincial Fish and Wildlife officer was dispatched to the location to collect the turtle.

It was first seen further north along the beach, around a point on Sunday but had floated along the tide wash to a more accessible area near the MacDonald’s Shore beach access road by Monday morning.

West Cape resident Ivan MacWilliams saw the turtle in the tide wash on Monday morning and posted photos of it online. He estimated its length at four to five feet.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans provided some information on the endangered leatherbacks, indicating they are known to be in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait at this time of year, foraging on jellyfish, prior to migrating south for the winter months. Adults travel up to 18,000 km per year.

Fishermen are requested to report sightings of leatherbacks to the Canadian Sea Turtle Network 1-888-729-4667 or info@ seaturtle.ca and to report entangled turtles to the nearest conservation and protection office.

The average leatherback found in Atlantic Canadian waters, according to DFO information, is approximately 1.5 metres in length and weighs about 400 kg.

The species evolved about 100 million years ago and got its name for its characteristic leathery shell.