How long has the leatherback sea turtle been endangered?

The leatherback sea turtle has been classified as endangered since the early 1990s, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listing it as vulnerable in 1982 and then upgrading its status to endangered in 1996. The primary threats to their population include habitat loss, entanglement in fishing gear, and poaching. Conservation efforts have been ongoing to protect this species and its nesting sites. However, they continue to face significant challenges in their survival.