Good news of the day: Leatherback turtles

In a paper published in Biological Conservation (subscription required for full access), Matthew Witt et al. have found that Gabon hosts the largest known nesting population of leatherback sea turtles. Using aerial surveying techniques, instead of the usual on-the-ground work, over several years, the group estimated that between 15,000 and 40,000 female leatherbacks use the Gabon coastline as a nesting site. (Hat tip: EcoTone.) The news is especially good because nearly 80% of the nesting area is in national parks and protected areas.

Biological Conservation, Gabon, leatherback sea turtles