All other sea turtles are confined to the warmer regions of the world's oceans. Leatherbacks require warm tropical beaches to incubate their eggs. After mating with a male just off shore, the female waits for nightfall to clamber up the beach, dig a shallow pit in the sand, and deposit her eggs. The female then buries the eggs with her hind flippers and compacts the sand with the weight of her body before crawling back to the sea. Although a female may lay as many as 100 to 150 eggs at time, only a few will survive to grow to adulthood and breed.
Life is perilous for a tiny hatchling sea turtle.
They are a favorite food for natural predators such as raccoons, seabirds, sharks, and large fishes. If it can survive to adulthood, spending as long as 10 to 15 years at sea, a turtle will return to breed at the same beach where it hatched. Causes of Endangerment Overexploitation Sea turtle eggs are a prized food for humans and animals alike. They are easy prey, simply waiting to be dug up once the female turtle returns to the sea. Turtle eggs are used in traditional Asian medicines, and in most parts of the tropical world the eggs are an important part of local diets.