Leatherback turtle spotted near Devon coast
A leatherback turtle has been spotted swimming off Devon's coast.
Video footage of the species swimming through calm waters near Beer, Seaton, was recorded by a paddleboarder on 19 June.
Ed Parr Ferris, conservation manager at Devon Wildlife Trust, said the species had occasionally been spotted in Devon, travelling large distances from the tropics.
"Leatherbacks are the largest marine turtle species and they travel huge distances, coming from the tropics where they breed, up to places like Devon and the South West and western Britain, where they feed on summer blooms of jellyfish," he said.
Mr Parr Ferris said the age of the leatherback turtle was unconfirmed, but added it was "certainly a mature" animal.
He said the species was in "decline" due to pressures such as being tangled in fishing equipment and marine litter.
"We're lucky that we see a few sightings each year," he said.
"One of the challenges for turtles... is because they eat jellyfish they'll also go for things like plastic bags, thinking that they are jellyfish."
He added: "Once they consume them then they can get stuck in their gut.
"Avoid marine litter and if you see marine litter out and about, pick it up. We can all do our bit to protect these wonderful animals."
He also urged people to record sightings of the species with the Marine Conservation Society.
He said: "Also, follow code of conduct and watch from a distance.
"Appreciate them, enjoy them, they are magnificent animals to have in our waters."
More news stories for Devon
Listen to the latest news for Devon
Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.
Leatherback sea turtle washes up on beach
Warning after turtles wash up on Cornwall beaches
Hopes turtles will return to UK
Devon Wildlife Trust
Marine Conservation Society
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Woman Says She Was ‘Utterly Disgusted' with How a Cliquey Mom Treated Her After a Recent ‘Moms Night Out'
A mom says she is 'utterly disgusted' with how another woman treated her after a recent 'moms night out' The woman — who shared her story on a community forum — said she ended up feeling 'excluded and invisible' during the evening, and ultimately shared her feelings with another mom The woman said that instead of showing her sympathy, the other woman responded 'aggressively' and told her she had 'issues'A woman said she is "disgusted" by how another mom treated her after a recent night out. The woman detailed her story in a forum on the U.K.-based community site a place where women can go to get advice from other parents on a variety of topics. In her post, titled 'Moms night out, feeling excluded from the clique,' the woman said that she recently went out with some moms in her area. 'I feel somewhat sensitive and a little pressure to try to form friendships locally, as my child has special needs and moved to a new school out of the area,' she explained. However, she said that the evening didn't go as she had hoped. 'I felt totally excluded,' she said. 'No one really asked me anything about me, and the whole evening was spent feeling excluded and invisible.' She added, 'I found the dynamic difficult.' The original poster (OP) said that at the end of the evening, one of the other moms asked her how her night had gone, and the OP said she 'told her the truth,' telling the other woman that she 'largely felt excluded as everyone knows each other better.' The OP said that the other mom 'responded fairly aggressively' to her honest comment. She then said that she has since received a message from the other woman letting her know that she 'won't make my child's birthday party' and that the woman 'implied I had issues to resolve.' 'I feel utterly disgusted,' the OP added. 'I thought I would get some compassion and there would be some understanding that a new mom [might] find it hard to enter an already formed friendship group.' 'I'm happy to end the connection with her, but worried she will now influence the rest of the group and other moms to break off contact with me,' the OP said. 'Is this normal? Is this awful mom behavior? Or am I in the wrong somewhere?' the woman asked at the end of her post, before admitting, 'I regret being honest.' The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The majority of post commenters said that they thought both parties were somewhat to blame in the situation. Many said that they thought the other mom was wrong to skip a child's birthday party, while also saying that the OP may have come off as rude. 'I doubt anyone was purposefully excluding you on the night out,' one person said. The same person added, 'People just gravitate to what's most comfortable, [and] that is chatting to the person next to them that they already know … It was a bit accusatory of you to say you weren't made to feel welcome, as it implies people were actively making you feel unwelcome. And [the other woman], in that moment, [was] making an effort to chat to you!' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'It takes time to get to know people,' said someone else. 'You weren't 'in' on many things as you don't know the group. Surely over time you would be? Making new friends takes effort and time.' Another person said, 'You were quite rude to say that — what was she supposed to say or do? I wouldn't have canceled the party, but I wouldn't be extending invitations to another evening out.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Baby peregrine falcons re-released into the wild
A wildlife rescue charity rescued, rehabilitated and released six juvenile peregrine falcons. Secret World Wildlife Rescue in Highbridge, Somerset, said it had seen an "unprecedented influx" of young falcons this year. The charity said each rescue involved a unique set of challenges, from cliffs and construction sites to power stations and city rooftops. Charlotte Wroe, release coordinator for the charity, said: "To give six of them a second chance at life in the wild is a powerful reminder of the importance of wildlife rescue and the incredible results that can be achieved through collaboration." The first arrival was a female from Weston-super-Mare Quarry, admitted with a swollen shoulder. The charity found she had two siblings and both parents waiting for her in their cliff top nest. After nine days of rest and pain relief, the chick was well enough to be returned to her family. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset Secret World said one of the most dramatic rescues was at Hinkley Point Power Station B, where three fledglings from a specially-built nesting platform were attacked by protective gulls while attempting their maiden flights. The peregrine falcons were rehabilitated and returned to the nest, where they were reunited with their attentive mother. Several of the birds were fitted with coloured monitoring rings, giving conservationists hope of tracking their progress and survival. "These birds face an incredibly high mortality rate during their juvenile phase," Ms Wroe explained. "Learning to hunt at speeds of up to 200mph while catching and killing birds mid-air is an intense and dangerous training regime that they must go through with their parents." Secret World has just admitted a seventh Peregrine Falcon - from Bristol. It is being assessed and cared for by its Wildlife Care Team, with the charity hoping to release it back into the wild as soon as possible. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Firefighters rescue peregrine falcon stuck in gully Four peregrine falcon chicks hatch at cathedral Peregrine falcons locked in cathedral battle
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘It's in our blood': Bolton veterans celebrate Armed Forces Day 2025
Bolton celebrated the culmination of Armed Forces Week on June 28, bringing together representatives of veteran groups, cadets, charities and members of the public to celebrate the achievements of the British military past and present. The day began with a short service and was followed by a family fun-day, where people could find out more about the different aspects of the Armed Forces and have a go at various activities, including paintballing. For the veterans in attendance, Armed Forces Day, which falls annually on the last Saturday of June, is one of the most important dates in the calendar. Simon Skirving, 64, Chairman of the Bolton Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club, said: 'It's about celebrating the sacrifices made in the past and the sacrifices people are making today. That's why it's important.' Mr Skirving joined the army in 1974 and said he would 'go back tomorrow' if he could. He was attending Bolton's Armed Forces with fellow Breakfast Club members and veterans Captain Rameshchandra Mistry, 69, who served in the 216 Battery RA Bolton and Macbool Wahid, 56, who served as a regular with the Royal Signals for 10 years and the Reserves for 20. Simon Skirving, Captain Rameshchandra Mistry and Macbool Wahid from the Bolton Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club on Armed Forces Day 2025. (Image: Bolton News) When the Breakfast Club started in Bolton almost two years ago, there were four regular members and now there are around 20. Mr Skirving added: 'When you have a chance to get together, with your medals on, I feel proud. And when people come and say to you: Thank you for your service, we're all proud.' Mr Wahid said: 'I joined it when I was 16. I don't regret it for a second. I absolutely loved it, it made me the man I am now and got me to where I am now. Without the training and discipline you can't succeed. It gives you a good grounding. It's the comradery – you can never replace that.' Armed Forces Day is also an opportunity to teach the public about what the military does and stands for. Veteran Ken Rathbone, 74, who was in Victoria Square with his fellow members of the Bolton Royal Naval Association, told The Bolton News that he hopes events like this will inspire a new generation of servicepeople. Members of Bolton's Royal Naval Association, including chairman Richard Hilton (front left) and Ken Rathbone (back right). (Image: The Bolton News) He said: 'What we would like to do is encourage the younger generation, if they're thinking of going into the armed forces. Everyone in the forces thinks they're from the best force, but we've been lucky enough when we joined the navy to have travelled the world. 'It's a golden opportunity for the younger generation to see the world, but belong to an organisation that will pay for them, look after their health and give them the comradeship that we still have from 50 years ago. 'Once navy, always navy.' Vicky Plimley, 41, is a reservist from the 103 Regiment at 206 Battery, based on Nelson Street. After a 22-year career as a kitchen designer, Ms Plimley decided to ditch her office job for something more 'exciting and worthwhile'. 'I didn't know anything about the army at all before I went in. I didn't know what an L118 Light Gun looked like,' she said, pointing at the weapon on display next to her. 'I turned up for Tuesday night drill session, went through basic training and the rest is history.' Reservist Vicky Plimley next to a L118 Light Gun. (Image: The Bolton News) Since joining the reserves five years ago, Ms Plimley has been to Kenya, Austria, trekking in Nepal, gained some mountaineering qualifications and is currently preparing for a six-month stint in Cyprus. She quit her 'civvy' job last year to focus on her military career. She said: 'It's the best thing that I have ever done. It's hard work, but it's so enjoyable. You meet great people, you visit places that you never would before, but take that first step, be brave, go and speak to somebody, ask questions, see what it's about.' Another community represented in force at Armed Forces Day was Bolton's various cadet groups. At one point, a large group of them gathered together on Victoria Square for a penalty shootout. Sergeant Armstrong, 61, was manning a stall with members of his army cadet group. Here, teenagers learn invaluable skills, such as problem solving, communication, mountaineering, to name but a few. Sergeant Armstrong manning the army cadet stall at Bolton's Armed Forces Day celebrations. (Image: The Bolton News) When asked about why Armed Forces Day is so important today, he said: 'I think it's great to give people an understanding. We're not teaching cadets to go off into the army, we're purely giving them the skills, but the more that people see of the Armed Forces, the better it is, for people to realise that we gave a lot for everyone else. Especially in today's climate.' For veteran Ryan Yates, Armed Forces Day is a way of raising awareness. In 2021, the 37-year-old founded Veteran's Army, a Bolton-based non-profit organisation that supports ex-servicepeople and their families. What started as an online platform on social media has grown to offer a 'plethora of services' nationally. He said: 'The reason that Armed Forces Day is important is because the nation as whole needs to accept the sacrifices made by veterans and the family members of veterans. There should be support in that, but unfortunately, in this day and age no one really cares. 'With my PTSD, when I looked for aid, I didn't know where to go, what was good, what wasn't good, a lot of people were saying that what they were doing was the best thing to be done. We've made it a lot easier, much more streamlined in our own services.' Ryan Yates (left), founder of Veteran's Army (Image: The Bolton News) He added: 'For too long we've gone with not recruiting, not supporting veterans, not supporting people that want to join the military, not advertising it in the right way and not seeing it as a career path. 'A career in the military is by far the best thing I ever did. I joined at 16, I did ten years, and I don't regret a single thing. There's not many veterans that would say they regret it.' This sentiment was a common theme among all the former servicepeople we spoke to, most of whom were out in Bolton to celebrate the comradery that the army has given them. As Richard Hilton, 71, chairman of Bolton Royal Naval Association, put it: 'It says it quite clearly on our poster: unity, patriotism, comradeship and loyalty. That's what we are all about, we've done the job, we know the job, and now we've finished the job, we're still get together 'It's in our blood. That's why we do it – and we have a good laugh along the way.'
