Leatherback sea turtles have used the same nesting beaches for thousands of years. The nesting beaches that this turtle prefers are easily disturbed by loud noises and bright lights. All over the earth, hotels , restaurants , and homeowners have encountered leatherbacks nesting on beaches. At night the female leatherback drags itself to a deserted island about 50 feet from the sea. It digs a shallow hole , lays it eggs, than goes back into the sea. Female Leatherbacks are often frightened away and their eggs are crushed by humans sunbathing, playing, and driving on the beaches. When the baby turtles hatch they often get confused  by the lights of  buildings  near the beach.  They are supposed to be  drawn to the bright white light of the ocean. When they get confused they go the wrong way and can die.

    The leatherback's habitat of gathering in great numbers to lay it's eggs on sandy beaches has contributed to it's endangerment. In the past, and still today, huge numbers of adult leatherback are killed and their eggs are collected for food. This turtle also has suffered a loss of habitat because of  the many hotels and tourist spots being built on its sandy water front breeding  grounds.

    Laws to protect the Leatherback have passed in French Guiana, Costa  Rico,  Sri Lanka,  Mexico , South Africa, Australia, Trinidad, Tobago, Serine, and other countries around the world.  Campaigns  to save this turtles have brought  about the creation of a number of turtle sanctuaries  on part of the beaches In the United States and Europe.