In the 1980s the worldwide population was estimated at nearly 100,000. On one important nesting beach in Mexico, there were 6,500 nests recorded in 1986, but only 50 nests in 1993. One of the main threats to the Leatherback turtle is shrinking habitat. Leatherbacks have used the same nesting beaches for thousands of years. The beaches that the turtles nest on are often the same beaches preferred by people.
Female turtles are easily frightened away.
Leatherback eggs are often crushed by humans sunbathing, playing, and driving on the beaches. After they hatch, baby Leatherbacks are supposed to be drawn to the bright white light of the surf. Sometimes the lights from buildings near the beach confuse the babies and they go the wrong way and die. Because Leatherbacks eat jellyfish, they will eat anything that looks like a jellyfish in the water. When they swallow discarded plastic trash they suffocate.