Leatherback turtles have been around for a hundred million years now, and they are desperately trying to fend off the onslaught of man's activities which has decimated their population by 95 percent in the past two decades.

On April 16, the online community can watch as 11 of these sea turtles swim for the future of their species from Costa Rica to the Galapagos Island in Ecuador where they will hopefully lay their eggs and give birth to a new generation.

Using satellite tracking devices, scientists and everyone interested can track the movement of the turtles across the pacific as the ancient reptiles embark on their 950-mile odyssey. Participants can choose which of the turtles will make it to Galapagos. There's no reward for getting it right, but to know that hope for the species is at hand should be fulfilling enough.

The turtles are extremely endangered as a lot of their kind have died because of pollution, poaching and destruction of their habitat. These turtles can grow as big as almost six feet long and can weigh as much as 1,540 pounds.

Entanglement to fishing nets and choking on plastics mistaken for jellyfish are just some of the leading causes of turtle deaths in the Pacific ocean. If you want to check it out see www.greatturtlerace.com .