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Marine Turtle Newsletter 47:14-15, © 1989

Male Leatherback Strands In Karachi

Fehmida Firdous
Project Officer, Research and Conservation of Marine Turtles, Sind Wildlife Management Board, Stratchen Road, Karachi-1, P.O. Box 3722, Pakistan

On 5 September 1988 at about 0100 hrs, a dead male leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) was recorded lying on the beach in front of the first turtle enclosure near Hut #87 at Sandspit, Karachi. A very high level of decomposition indicated that the specimen had died some days before, perhaps due to shark attack (there was a prominent cut on the ventral side of the left rear flipper). The carcass was washed ashore by strong waves and stranded about 20 feet away from the high tide mark. The highest tide at that time was 7.2 feet (Tide Table, Hydrographic Department, Naval Headquarters, Karachi). The soft carapace was found broken due to severe decomposition and internal organs protruded through the leathery shell. The following measurements were taken on site using a flexible measuring tape:

The animal was dissected to study the internal organs and to observe any parasites. A few specimens of Helminths were collected after opening the whole alimentary canal. They were fixed and preserved for identification and were not considered to be the cause of death.

The leatherback is found in nearby waters, probably in the coastal areas of Oman and India. According to Jack Frazier, the species is in a precarious state and nests regularly near southern Mozambique and perhaps Laccadives. On the west and south coast of India nesting by leatherbacks is irregular and the situation is more urgent, since these populations are the smallest and are under heavy pressure. The species is listed in the IUCN Red Data Book under Category I; however it is also given what is called "star listing" which means that it is critically endangered. More should be done to improve its status.