Testing times for tiny turtles

Update

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Marine rescue authorities have started gearing up for the annual sea turtle "stranding season" which sees large numbers of mostly endangered loggerhead turtle hatchlings end up on Southern Cape beaches.

A team of nine passionate conservationists, aquarists and turtle lovers from the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town and its NPO, the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation, have taken to the road to visit communities along the Southern Cape coast to educate the public on how to save these turtles from certain death when they do end up on the beach.

The team visited Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Rheendendal, Sedgefield, Wilderness, George, Stilbaai and Witsand recently before moving on to communities between Infanta and Gansbaai.

All the way from KZN
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.

Those that beach 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 for further rehabilitation and eventual release back into the wild.

Rescue programme
The Two Oceans Aquarium established its Turtle Rescue Programme, which includes an education drive through various communities, to try and curb the number of turtle hatchling deaths every year.

It was launched in 2018 and is a collaboration of coastal organisations working with Southern Cape communities to get rescued sea turtles to the Two Oceans Aquarium for emergency care as swiftly as possible.

"This year, the Turtle Rescue Programme team hopes to expand the number of people who are equipped with the knowledge needed to save the life of a stranded turtle hatchling immensely, by visiting over 35 schools, and bringing them fun, interactive lessons. The aim is to create future turtle rescuers who are inspired to take action should the need arise. The group will also undertake various beach cleanups and workshops, which will focus on the correct procedure when rescuing a turtle," Two Oceans Aquarium spokesperson Renee Leeuwner said.

Along the way they also link up with some of their conservation partners for workshops, presentations and activities.

How can you help?
Leeuwner said it is important not to place any stranded sea turtles back in the water as they could drown.

"Rather put the hatchling in a small, dry container with air holes and something soft to rest on."

She added it is important to also identify the nearest Turtle Rescue Network point and then transport it there, keeping it out of direct sunlight and without covering it or providing it with food and or water.