Loggerhead turtle washes up
A female loggerhead sea turtle is being cared for by the East London aquarium after washing up between Seavale and Christmas Rock.
Named Gloria after the character in the movie Madagascar, the 65kg reptile is estimated to be between 15 to 20 years old and had an infected right eye, the suspected reason for her coming ashore.
Geoff Preston, 77, from Seavale, was walking with his partner when they spotted the turtle on Monday morning and phoned the East London Aquarium.
Preston said: “We found it lying on the waterline. It looked like a log. You could see it had a bit of an eye infection and was covered in green weeds.”
“We gave it a chance. If we left it there it might’ve just died.
“I think it was probably a bit weak and we gave it a good chance to survive.”
Acting aquarium manager Steven Rheede said the turtle was very weak and receiving veterinary care.
“Marine turtles play a big role in our oceans,” he said.
“The East London Aquarium and aquariums across SA are collectively working on conservation projects relating to sustaining turtle populations to mitigate the negative effects the animals encounter in the wild that have to do with human activity.”
“After consulting with Bayworld, we have started a treatment programme.
“It’s still early days and we are doing whatever we can.
“The only thing wrong with her is the eye, which is protruding and swollen, which could’ve been caused by many things.
“We’re in the process of deciding whether to get an X-ray from a local vet or take her up to Bayworld. Besides the eye issue, we can’t tell internally and want to assess her properly.”
Breeding adult loggerheads spend most of their lives out at sea, mainly coming ashore if injured or to lay eggs.
“The eye is hindering her ability to hunt They eat a lot of squid and fish. To find food must’ve been quite difficult, however, they do adapt pretty well I’ve even seen them thriving with one flipper.”
“We don’t have too many breeding sites close to East London and it is quite rare to find animals of that size washed up on the beach.”
Last April the aquarium received and cared for 25 loggerhead hatchlings from Bayworld in Gqeberha, the Dispatch reported.
“When they came in a lot were quite badly damaged and dehydrated, and some had missing flippers from bites of fish, or whatever the case.
“We don’t release animals into the wild that aren’t capable of taking care of themselves, or else they end up back on the beach.
“The ratio of release is very high, which is good.
“It shows we serve a function. Hopefully, our work will make a difference in the future population of these animals.”
Rheeder said that if someone were to come across a sea creature they should immediately call the aquarium.
“Nine times out of ten it’s very
dehydrated. Feeding or forcefeeding would do more damage … Do not try to pick them up or move them.”
Ruth Wright, aquarium curator at Bayworld in charge of turtle rehabilitation, said that recent stormy seas had affected a large number of hatchlings, which had washed ashore.
“Unprecedented numbers are coming out,” she said.
“We have a large 65kg male green turtle that came from Port Alfred. It’s a strange time of year for larger turtles to come ashore. The massive storms in Cape Town caused their mass standings.
“Turtles are reptiles so if they get caught in cold water they
stop feeding, stop swimming and are washed ashore.
“The small ones especially. They are weak, so the cold puts them to sleep.”
Wright urged beachgoers to never put a washed-up sea turtle back into the water, but to call the closest aquarium.
She said: “Please don’t put them back in the water … It’s our biggest struggle and the worst thing to do. If the animal is strong we let our vets have a check and it will be released but there’s normally a serious reason they come ashore.”
If you find a stranded sea animal, contact the East London Aquarium at 043-705-2637 or 082-328-1121.