Endangered leatherback turtle found dead on Aberdeenshire beach
The reptile was found at the St Cyrus nature reserve on Friday.
The breed is critically endangered, with an estimated 26,000-40,000 breeding females around the world - down from more than 100,000 in 1980.
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Hide AdLeatherback turtles are found across the world but are rarely seen in the seas around the north-east of Scotland, with most sightings being made from Orkney and the Western Isles.
Volunteers alerted experts at the Scotland’s Rural College and used a quad bike to remove the turtle from the beach on Friday.
It is unclear how the reptile died.
A number of sea animals have been found dead on Scotland’s coastline in the wake of Storm Frank.
The turtles are listed by IUCN as vulnerable as a species, but many sub-populations are classed as critically endangered.