PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - After heavy rains in the Bitou and Keurbooms river catchments, an incredible natural event unfolded along Plettenberg Bay's coastline in 2023.
Hundreds of tiny, endangered Knysna seahorses, normally hidden in the protected underwater meadows of the Keurbooms estuary, were suddenly swept into the ocean.
Stranded on Lookout beach, they were vulnerable, unable to survive for long outside their estuarine habitat.
"But what happened next was extraordinary,” said Priyanka Naidoo of the Living with Nature initiative.
Local volunteers - children, families, conservationists, and beachgoers - rushed to the shore, rescuing stranded seahorses with care and urgency.
In a matter of hours, over 1 000 seahorses were collected, the live ones gently placed into seawater containers until they could be returned to the estuary.
Mari McGowan doing her bit during the 2023 crisis. Photo: Jadee McGowan
Shelter and food
This heartwarming community-driven conservation effort was a reminder that protecting nature isn't just about policies or organisations - it's about people stepping up when it matters most.
The Knysna seahorse is one of the rarest seahorse species in the world and is only found in three South African estuaries. Unlike their ocean-dwelling relatives, these seahorses cannot survive in the open sea.
They rely on eelgrass, a critical but often overlooked habitat that provides them with shelter and food. Seahorses are not strong swimmers. Instead, they cling to the bottom of eelgrass beds with their tails, anchoring themselves against the gentle currents.
What can you do to help?
If you find a stranded seahorse: Place it gently in a container with seawater and contact the Plett Stranding Hotline immediately on 079 463 4837.
Protect the estuary: Avoid polluting the Keurbooms and Bitou rivers. Properly dispose of waste and minimise chemical run-off.
Avoid the eelgrass: Avoid walking on the eelgrass and damaging it with oars and boat propellers.
Said Naidoo: "The September 2023 rescue was a powerful reminder of nature’s fragilitybut also of our ability to make a difference. By protecting the Keurbooms estuary and its eelgrass beds, we're not just saving seahorses; we're preserving an entire ecosystem for future generations.
Because when the tide turns, it's up to us to ensure these tiny creatures have a place to call home.
"Living with nature Eco Explorer, in partnership with Conserve Eden (director Mark Brown) and the Plett Marine Stranding Network (co-ordinated by CapeNature senior marine field ranger Chanel Visser), have joined forces on the Living with Nature initiative - the aim of which is to promote peaceful co-existence between people (and pets) and nature by providing factual, localised information and community experiences.
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