World's largest sea turtles return to Panama's Pacific coast - UPI.com

A leatherback turtle hatchling is released into the sea on Ocean Park Beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in late June. The leatherback has returned to nest on Panama's Pacific coast after nearly a decade. File Photo by Thais Llorca/EPA

Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Leatherback sea turtles, the world's largest marine turtle species, have returned to nest on Panama's Pacific coast after nearly a decade, the country's Environment Ministry said.

Conservation teams documented three nesting events at El Fondiaderito, a remote beach in Darién province near Panama's border with Colombia.

Darién | La playa El Fondiaderito, frente a la comunidad de Jaqué, continúa consolidándose como un importante sitio de reproducción para la tortuga baula, una especie en peligro crítico de extinción.

Durante esta temporada se registraron tres eventos de anidación, que... pic.twitter.com/4d0WWXRjtB— Ministerio de Ambiente de Panamá (@MiAmbientePma) August 14, 2026