The hard-working team at the Two Oceans Aquarium have managed to save 213 stranded loggerhead turtles hatchlings since the beginning of autumn in Cape Town.
The Turtle Rescue Programme has had their hands full with huge numbers of turtles in need of rescue just off the southern coast near Plettenberg Bay and Cape Point, and their rehabilitation centre is packed to the brim with the helpless little creatures.
This year, members of the public also pitched in assisting in saving a huge number of turtles. According to the aquarium, their valiant efforts have made a huge difference.
The aquarium is expecting the number of rescues to rise even more as winter advances and strong winds continue to batter the coast.
Luckily for the Two Oceans Aquarium, uShaka Sea World has agreed to take in 84 of the helpless little hatchlings to assist in the rehabilitation process.
“The hatchlings that we’ve chosen to send to uShaka are the early arrivals that have had a long time to recover, and can now prepare for their release in the warmer climate of KwaZulu-Natal. These hatchlings include the first rescue of the season, Nubby, who was the first rescued hatchling to arrive at the Two Oceans Aquarium in 2019 – and has proven to be quite the little fighter, even with half a flipper bitten off,” the aquarium said.
There have been a number of unusual rescues this year like Nubby and another little hatchling who was found with goose barnacles on his body that exceeded his own weight. The aquarium believes that the hatchling must have been drifting for a very long time in order to have been covered so severely by the barnacles.
This amazing rescue programme saves so many precious turtles each year and is truly an amazing initiative.
Locals have been thanked for all of their help with rescuing stranded turtles. If you would like to find out more about the Two Oceans Aquarium’s Turtle Rescue Programme, click here.
Pictures: Two Oceans Aquarium/Jessica Sloan/Kevin Spiby/Talitha Noble/Kyle Burns