PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - March usually marks the beginning of 'turtle hatchling stranding season' and this year is no different as the first turtles have started appearing along Plettenberg Bay beaches and surrounding areas.
Every year between March and May, large numbers of tiny endangered loggerhead turtles and sometimes leatherback turtles wash up on beaches along the South African coast.
The turtles hatch in KwaZulu-Natal and usually swim into the warm Agulhas currents and drift southwards. Nesting season is usually between October and December.
However, often a strong south-easterly wind and rough sea conditions force them into colder Cape waters and they end up beaching along the coastline - stunned by the cold, dehydrated and sometimes injured.
Over the past week, several little turtles were found in Plettenberg Bay alone and according to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, this is not limited to Plett. According to the aquarium's turtle conservation centre, it is currently very busy with hatchlings showing up from across the South African coastline.
The team said rescuing these turtles is very important as only two out of every 100 sea turtle hatchlings survive to maturity. So far, they have obtained an 85% release rate after rehabilitation at the centre.
They usually stay at the centre until after winter to have enough time to grow bigger and stronger for release during the summer when the water is warmer.
As part of its rescue efforts, the centre has established a turtle rescue network and works closely with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), Shark Spotters, SANParks, Bayworld and various other organisations along the coast from Gqeberha to Lamberts Bay.
Turtle rescue network points are drop-off and collection points for stranded turtles, from where logistics are arranged to get the turtles to the centre for rehabilitation.
A loggerhead turtle hatchling that has washed up on a Plettenberg Bay beach over the past two weeks.
The aquarium has released guidelines for beachgoers who come across a stranded turtle hatchling.
Firstly, one should not put the turtle back into the water, but find out where the nearest turtle network point is.
The next step is to transport the turtle to the network point in a tub or box with a dry towel as soon as possible, keeping it out of direct sunlight and wind.
According to experts turtles don't come onto land unless they are nesting, so if a turtle is spotted on a beach outside of the nesting period, it means that they need help.
In Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, the Stranding Network and SANParks can be contacted on 079 463 4837 and 072 112 8193 respectively.
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