Rare Leatherback Turtle Spotted In Red Sea Signals Possible Range Expansion And Conservation Importance

The National Center for Wildlife confirmed a rare record of a leatherback sea turtle in the Red Sea, describing it as one of very few sightings of this Critically Endangered species in these waters. Specialists view the observation as important for regional conservation planning and monitoring of marine biodiversity.

The turtle was seen about 30 kilometres offshore from Al-Qunfudhah Governorate, inside the newly created Blue Holes Protected Area. This zone lies within a wider network of marine reserves that Saudi authorities are developing along the Red Sea coast to protect vulnerable habitats and migratory species.

According to the IUCN Red List, leatherback turtles in the Indian Ocean are listed as Critically Endangered. The National Center for Wildlife noted that data for the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf are still limited, as very few confirmed records exist for this species in those subregions.

Leatherback turtles are the largest sea turtle species, with some individuals reaching around 900 kilograms in weight. They are recognised by a black, leathery shell instead of hard scutes and by five clear ridges running lengthwise along the back, features that distinguish them from other marine turtles.

The center explained that leatherback turtles undertake migrations that can cover thousands of kilometres while searching for food, especially jellyfish. The nearest known regular ranges are in the Indian Ocean between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at approximately 7,000 to 8,000 kilometres distance from the Red Sea.

Other important habitats for the species lie nearer to Sri Lanka at about 5,000 kilometres and at nesting sites in India’s Andaman Islands, around 6,500 kilometres away. No nesting beaches have yet been documented anywhere along the Red Sea coast, based on available scientific records.

Leatherback sea turtle in the Red Sea: route through Bab el-Mandeb

Because there are no known nesting grounds in the Red Sea, the National Center for Wildlife suggested the turtle most likely entered through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in search of prey. The center described such a journey as exceptional, as it requires precise long-distance navigation across open ocean.

Recent reports of leatherback turtles in the wider region are very scarce. Documented cases include a juvenile recorded in Jordan in December 2025 and another individual observed off Djibouti in December 2019. These few records highlight how unusual the Al-Qunfudhah sighting is for the Red Sea.

Leatherback sea turtle in the Red Sea: protected areas and conservation efforts

The center stated that rare sightings of leatherback turtles may indicate a gradual expansion of the species’ range into the Red Sea. This possibility adds weight to ongoing conservation programmes and supports the need for stronger protection of pelagic feeding grounds and coastal ecosystems along the Saudi coast.

The National Center for Wildlife highlighted that the Farasan Islands Marine Protected Area, together with the recently declared Blue Holes and Ras Hataba reserves, forms a key part of efforts to protect endangered marine life. These connected protected areas aim to support long-term survival of species such as the leatherback sea turtle in the Red Sea.

With inputs from SPA