RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife Development has recorded a rare sighting of a critically endangered leatherback sea turtle in the Red Sea, about 30 kilometers off Al-Qunfudhah Governorate, within the recently designated Blue Holes Marine Reserve.The Center said the sighting is among the very few documented observations of the species in the Red Sea. **media[2657530]** The leatherback is the world’s largest sea turtle, weighing up to 900 kilograms, capable of diving to depths of around 1,000 meters, and distinguished by its black, leather-like skin and five longitudinal ridges along its back.According to the Center, the species undertakes long-distance migrations spanning thousands of kilometers in search of food, primarily jellyfish.The nearest known populations are located in the Indian Ocean off South Africa and Sri Lanka, as well as nesting sites in India’s Andaman Islands, all far from the Red Sea.The Center noted that there are no recorded nesting sites for leatherback turtles in the Red Sea, suggesting the individual likely entered the region through the Bab al-Mandab Strait while foraging, a rare journey given the navigational precision required.The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List classifies the leatherback as critically endangered in the Indian Ocean and as data deficient in the northwestern region, including the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, due to limited scientific data.The most recent documented regional sighting occurred in Jordan in December 2025, with an earlier juvenile recorded off Djibouti in December 2019.The Center said the sightings highlight the species’ occasional presence in the Red Sea and underscore the importance of continued marine conservation efforts. It noted that the Farasan Islands Marine Reserve, along with the newly designated Blue Holes and Ras Hattabah reserves, plays a key role in protecting endangered marine species and preserving biodiversity in the region.