GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Several loggerhead turtle hatchlings have been rescued along the Plettenberg Bay and Knysna coast over the past few weeks as the annual "stranding season" is now under way.
Every year, between March and May, large numbers of these endangered turtles wash up on various beaches along the South African coast, including the Southern Cape.
The turtles are hatchlings from KwaZulu-Natal, the nearest breeding area, that become caught in strong currents.
They usually swim into the warm Agulhas currents and drift southwards, but often a strong southeasterly wind and rough sea conditions force them into colder Cape waters. They end up beaching along the coastline, stunned by the cold, dehydrated and injured.
Nursed back to health
Those that end up along the Plettenberg Bay and Knysna coast usually end up at the Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre where they are nursed back to health and then transported to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town where they are further rehabilitated and eventually released back into the wild.
The team at Tenikwa said that the first hatchling was rescued last month, but was strong enough to head to Cape Town the very next day.
Another two were found in the Sedgefield area and were stabilised by a Knysna veterinarian, before being sent off to the aquarium for further rehabilitation. Several others have also been rescued further up the coast towards Hermanus.
They are expecting more to wash up in weeks to come as weather changes start to set in.
Aquarium spokesperson Renee Leeuwner appealed to all beachgoers to be on the lookout for these hatchlings.
What you can do: There are several steps to be taken when one comes across these critters.
l "Don't put it back in the water," Leeuwner said. In many cases the animal would be too weak to survive if it was placed back in the ocean.
l Contact the nearest turtle network point. Due to these mass strandings every year, the Turtle Rescue Network – a collaboration of coastal organisations working with Southern Cape communities to get rescued sea turtles to the Two Oceans Aquarium for emergency care as quickly as possible – was established.
l Leeuwner also advised to place the turtle in a dry container, with air holes, with a soft towel. "Also keep the turtle out of the sun and wind."
Find out more
For a list of turtle network points visit www.aquarium.co.za/content/page/two-oceans-aquarium-sea-turtle-rescue-network-south-africa.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route news'
