Rare Leatherback Turtle found dead at Oregon Inlet

A rare leatherback sea turtle was found dead near ramp 4 at Oregon Inlet, NC. Marine biologists are studying the remains to try and determine the reason for it’s death. The leatherback turtle is the world’s fourth largest reptile and is the largest of all type of living turtles. A necropsy was performed on Thursday. Members in the Outer Banks Sea Mammal Stranding Network estimated that it weighed about 573 pounds. Leatherbacks turtles are on the federal endangered species list.