Capture-mark-recapture data, individual morphometrics (including size and growth), remigration data, and nesting population size (2000-2006) are presented for leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Cipara and Querepare, Paria Peninsula, Venezuela. From 502 tagged females, the average remigration interval for 41 individuals seen in subsequent years was 2.5 years. In Querepare, remigrants (previously tagged) and neophytes (untagged individuals) increased significantly; in Cipara, remigrants increased significantly but neophytes did not. Of 38 tagged females observed nesting at more than one beach during a nesting season, 73.6 % traveled between Cipara and Querepare (30 km) and 10.5 % the balance between Cipara or Querepare and Unare (10-30 km) and 7.9 % between Paria and Margarita Island (130 km), as well as 5.3 % internationally between Paria and Trinidad (240 km) and 2.6 % between Cipara and Dominica (550 km). Mean curved carapace length (CCL) and width (CCW) of 403 measured females was 151.78±6.20 cm and 110.03±4.42 cm, respectively. Of 46 nesting females measured during more than one reproductive season, mean growth in CCL and CCW was 0.85±1.10 cm*yr–1 and 0.64±0.56 cm*yr–1, respectively. There was no significant relationship between growth rate and initial size or remigration interval. Estimates of population size between 2000 (58 adult females, range: 28-113) and 2006 (277 adult females, range: 133–532) increased both significantly and exponentially (r= 0.966, p= 0.0004), with the study sites representing 1% of estimated world adult female population.

Impact of artificial light on nesting in the leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea (Testudines: Dermochelyidae) at Cipara beach, Venezuela. The number of Leatherback turtle nests and their spatial distribution was compared between years with and without artificial light, and between dark and lighted beach segments, in Cipara Beach, Paria Peninsula, Venezuela. Residents were interviewed to identify their perceptions about the impact of artificial light on sea turtles. Mean volume of sand per meter of beach was larger at La Peña, Cipara and La Remate and smaller at Varadero (p<0.001), increasing from April to June and later decreasing until August (p<0.05). Mean percentage of gravel was higher at Varadero and La Peña, and lower at La Remate and Cipara. Most interviewed people said that artificial light does not affect sea turtles. Between 2000 and 2005, 1 217 leatherback landings and 1 056 nests were observed. Successful nests increased with the years (p=0.035) as well as total nest number (p=0.015). From 2000 through 2003 there were 743 landings, 661 nests and 374 clutches. During the two years with electric light (2004-2005), there were 474 landings, 395 nests and 232 clutches. Proportion of landings with nest building decreased significantly during the years with electric light (p= 0.005), but nesting success did not vary (p= 0.402). No significant difference was found between landings per beach meter in dark and lighted sectors (p=0.244), between nests built (p=0.379) and in the rate of successful nesting (p=0.516). Dark and lighted sectors did not differ in the proportion of landings with nest building (p=0.067) and success rate (p=0.833).