Turtle strandings on the increase

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - More than 50 stranded turtle hatchlings have been rescued along Garden Route beaches during what is turning out to be a record-breaking "stranding season".

Every year between March and May, large numbers of these tiny endangered loggerhead turtles that hatched in KwaZulu-Natal, drift southwards in the warm Agulhas currents and are often blown into colder Cape waters by strong wind and sea conditions.

Here they end up beaching along the coastline, stunned by the cold, dehydrated and sometimes injured.

These tiny creatures rescued along the Garden Route are transported to the rescue centres Bayworld in Gqeberha and the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, where they are rehabilitated and, when they are strong and healthy enough, released back into the wild.

According to a Nature's Valley Trust (NVT) social media statement, about 50 hatchlings that had been rescued were sent to the Two Oceans Aquarium and several more to the Bayworld Aquarium.

"The little ones are in the best of care with the turtle rehab teams, who take on the long-term job of getting the hatchlings fit and healthy for release back into the wild in the future. Total numbers and outcomes from the season will be communicated after the season has concluded," the team said.

The team at Bayworld already have 103 turtles at the rehabilitation facility. They said the turtles are stranding in numbers that they had never seen. According to the Two Oceans 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.

Hatchlings 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 between Gqeberha and Lamberts Bay. Turtle rescue network points act as drop-off and collection points for stranded turtles from where logistics are arranged to get the turtles to the centre for rehabilitation.

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.

Find out where the nearest turtle network point is and 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.

In Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, the Stranding Network and SANParks can be contacted on 079 463 4837 and 072 112 8193 respectively.

"We want to remind locals and visitors to please continue to keep an eye out for any turtle hatchling strandings, as the season continues to around August," the NVT statement said.

These turtles were rescued in Bitou during this year's hatchling season.