Leatherback sea turtle found dead on Feniglia beach

A leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) was found dead on the Feniglia beach in Orbetello, Tuscany, on Friday, October 9, 2026. The specimen, a female estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old, measured approximately 180 centimeters in length.

The cause of death was determined to be entanglement in abandoned fishing nets, also known as ghost gear. The turtle became trapped in the nets and was subsequently washed ashore by currents.

As the world’s largest sea turtle species, the leatherback is characterized by a leathery skin rather than a hard shell. While sightings in the Mediterranean are considered rare and extraordinary, this discovery confirms that the Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the routes traveled by the species.