CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR UPSC IAS

The proposed development of transshipment terminal at Galathia bay has threatened the nesting ground of leatherback turtle.

About

• It is the largest of all living turtles and the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile, reaching lengths of up to 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in) and weights of 500 kilograms.
• They are one of the most migratory turtles, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
• They swim over 10,000 miles a year to reach their nesting grounds.
• They routinely dive to depths of several hundred meters, and are occasionally known to plunge as deep as 1250 meters.
• They feed mainly on pelagic (open ocean) soft-bodied invertebrates such as jellyfish and tunicates.
• Their diet may also include squid, fish, crustaceans, algae, and floating seaweed.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable