High Turtle Alert

Gallery

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Conservationists along the South African coastline are on high alert as rough seas and the start of the annual sea turtle hatchling stranding season spells bad news for the little marine creatures.

Every year, between March and May, large numbers of mostly Loggerhead turtles, an endangered species, wash up on beaches along the South African coast, including the Southern Cape.

The turtles are hatchlings from the nearest breeding area, KwaZulu-Natal, that had been caught in strong currents. They usually swim into the warm Agulhas currents and drift southwards, but often a strong south-easterly 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.

The manager of the Plettenberg Bay-based animal rehabilitation centre Tenikwa, Cam Newton, said although they had not yet received any "patients", there were reports of rough sea conditions in the north, which raises concerns.

"We are however ready to receive the hatchlings if they do end up in our area," Newton said.

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.

Photo gallery: Watch out for stranded turtles on our beaches

This loggerhead turtle was rescued during a previous "beaching season" in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna.

Two Oceans Aquarium
The aquarium has over the years established a Turtle Rescue Network to deal with the stranded turtles before getting them to the aquarium for further assistance.

Aquarium spokesperson Renée Leeuwner said the aquarium rehabilitates the turtles in preparation for their release back into the warm ocean. The hatchlings range in size from 20g up to 80g. Rehabilitation can last more than a year, depending on the needs of each individual, as some are not only suffering from hypothermia but are also injured and require treatment.

The hatchlings are ideally released in early summer when the Cape's waters are warmer. The south-easter also brings the retroflecting Agulhas Current closer to the shore, making the release easier, and giving the hatchlings the best chance of being carried back into the currents that they rely on in their early years.

If the aquarium needs to release hatchlings earlier than November or December, such as in years when they receive more hatchlings than their facilities can sustain, they are flown to Durban to be released directly into the warm Agulhas Current.

This loggerhead turtle was rescued during a previous "beaching season" in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna.

What to do with beached hatchlings
Leeuwner said that if anyone comes across a turtle on the beach, there are a few golden rules to follow. The most important of these is to never put the turtle back in the water. In most cases the turtles will drown because they are too weak to lift their heads and keep them above water. It is best to place the turtle in a dry container at room temperature.

The second step is to contact the nearest Turtle Rescue Network point from where professionals would make arrangements for further assistance. It is important to provide as much information to rescuers as possible, including the size, where it was found and any obvious injuries.

In Knysna, SANParks can be contacted in this regard: Owen 044 302 5643 / 083 650 8649 or Megan 083 650 8649.

In Plettenberg Bay, the Plett Stranding Network can be contacted on 079 463 4837 or Chanal 072 317 2280. Tenikwa can also be contacted on 082 486 1515.

This loggerhead turtle was rescued during a previous "beaching season" in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna. Photos: Yolande Stander