Five leatherback turtles have been spotted in the UK so far this summer, according to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).
Leatherback turtle off the Isles of Scilly. Photo: Mike Daines
The critically endangered turtles are seasonal visitors to the UK and the MCS wants to hear from you if you see one.
Simon Smith, who was walking his dog on Cleveleys Beach near Blackpool this week, was lucky enough to spot a leatherback turtle. 'The sea was very calm and I was throwing the ball in for the dog to fetch when I noticed this big thing floating about fifty yards offshore,' he said. 'It looked like a corpse in a body bag!
'I threw the ball closer and it dived and then resurfaced further down the beach. I followed it and watched it with binoculars and realised it was a giant turtle. I got within thirty yards of it and watched it for almost two hours before the light faded. It wasn't scared at all - it was a truly amazing experience.'
Two turtles have also been seen off west Wales, one near the Isle of Man and another off the Isle of Skye.
Leatherback turtles feed on jellyfish and are threatened by habitat destruction, plastic pollution and fishing gear. They are the biggest species of turtles, growing up to two metres in length and weighing as much as a tonne.
'We encourage anyone who has spotted a turtle in UK waters, be it alive or dead, to report it immediately,' said Peter Richardson, MCS biodiversity programme manager. 'The more UK turtle sightings we hear about, the better our understanding will be of these fascinating creatures and the more we will know about how to make sure they are safe when they visit our seas.'
You can report turtle sightings on the website www.mcsuk.org
Live stranded turtles should not be returned to the sea but should be reported immediately to the RSPCA on 0300 1234999 (England & Wales), SSPCA on 0131 4474784 (Scotland) and to the EHS on 02870 823600 (Northern Ireland).
