uShaka Sea World has welcomed another 30 loggerhead turtle hatchlings, which it will rehabilitate before releasing the back into the ocean.
Two weeks ago 72 bundles of joy were admitted to the facility after they were rescued from various beaches in Cape Town following a storm. This brings to total 102 hatchlings delivered to uShaka.
Malini Pather, uShaka Sea World Lead Aquarist and Turtle Rehabilitation Specialist, said after having spent two weeks in rehabilitation under the watchful eyes of the veterinary and turtle rehabilitation staff, the 72 hatchlings were declared fit for release and transported 20 nautical miles out to sea and released into the Agulhas current.
“Although very little is known about sea turtles once they enter the Agulhas current, we do know that they spend their first few years floating on the surface of the ocean trying their best to avoid predators. It is only when they are older that they start foraging along inshore areas. Interestingly, these years are referred to as the ‘lost years’,” said Ms Pather.
“This year, an abnormally high number of hatchlings were stranded in quick succession and although we cannot be sure, we suspect the high number of strandings was due to extreme weather conditions. At this time of the year, these hatchlings would naturally be found in the Agulhas current.”
Once the remainder 30 of the hatchlings are strong enough and pass their medicals, they too will be taken out into the Agulhas current to resume their ocean adventures, Ms Pather added.
When the turtles were found two weeks ago, the Two Oceans Turtle Rehabilitation Facility, in Cape Town could only take in a few of them as they were at capacity. They reached out to uShaka Sea World to admit and care for 72 of the 304 little hatchlings which arrived at uShaka on April 15, said Ms Pather.
She said receiving such a large number of turtle hatchlings all at once, on such short notice was no easy feat. The 19 appropriately sized pools needed to be prepared. Some of the stronger patients had to be relocated to create space. Bespoke heaters and correct lighting needed to be sourced and put in place, whilst at the same time caring for the other animals in quarantine, she said.