Incredible discovery near Punta del Este: they found the largest turtle species in the world

Uruguayan fishermen did a extraordinary discovery on the seaside resort José Ignaciolocated just 35 minutes from Punta dell’Este, in the municipality of Garzón, department of Maldonado. It’s about the largest turtle species in the worldwhich usually does not appear near the beaches of that country and is in danger of extinction

The discovery took place in the first days of January, although it was only several weeks later that we knew what animal it was. As specified in the dialogue with the local radio FM people the director of Karumbé sea turtle centerGabriela Vélez, it’s there leatherback turtle, called seven-hulled turtle, whose shell can measure two meters in length. Its scientific name is Dermochelys coriacea.

“Days ago Gonzalo Gil and his partner Fernando shared the video with us where you could see 700 meters from the coast in José Ignacioto an enormous specimen of leatherback turtle or also known as seven-hulled turtle, its species is classified as the largest in the world,” they wrote from FM people on his official Twitter account.

Meanwhile, the expert explained that this animal”It is common to be found in Uruguayan waters“but deep down, since”It doesn’t get that close to the coastlike the green turtle does.”

Furthermore, he noted that “their main diet is mussels and other gelatinous organisms.” That’s why “when there are jellyfish in Uruguay, these turtles will appear, since they chase them.”

“Between January and May is the period in which they appear most along the entire coast. Mainly on the Atlantic coast, in the departments of Rocha and Maldonado. Sometimes it is also very common to see them inside the Río de la Plata estuary, looking for aguavivas. Towards the end of autumn you can see them in Montevideo or San José,” he added.

On the other hand, he stressed that “they are not aggressive animals.” However, he recommended people “respect them and do not try to get close to this species“.

Likewise, he warned that this type of turtle is widespread throughout the world, even though “it is the one with the greatest conservation problem and threat in the world”, that is, at high risk of extinction.

“It is one of the least known turtles. It is not clear where they spend the first years of life and populations are known to be in decline“He added.