Massive sea turtle centre to open at V&A Waterfront

Cape Town’s Victoria and Alfred Waterfront will host one of the world’s top turtle rehabilitation centres — and it will be open to the public.

South Africa’s top tourist attraction looks set to become even more popular with a 2,000m² Turtle Conservation Centre. Construction is due to start in 2026.

The centre will occupy a prime site inside the V&A’S new Granger Bay precinct situated between the current V&A site and Mouillie Point.

Centre visitors will be able to see rescued turtles and learn about turtle conservation.

The current Two Oceans Aquarium turtle rehabilitation facility, situated on the aquarium’s roof, has become too small for the number of turtles in need of care.

Turtles are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution.

They ingest microplastics and can become entangled in floating plastic debris such as discarded fishing tackle. The new centre will focus partly on public education around the plastic threat’and world s oceans. other dangers to the

The increased size of the new facility will allow the Two Oceans scientific team to rehabilitate turtles from around the African coastline, making it one of the most significant turtle conservation centres worldwide.

The current facility is only big enough to rehabilitate turtles found along the South African coastline.

“Where do you learn about plastic and being tangled in nets? You can’t really see it,” Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation executive chairperson Ann Lamont told TIMESLIVE Premium.

“But this is what touches people and shifts behaviour — people being able to experience this. It is such a critical part of caring for the ocean.”

“Right now we’re busy putting together the architectural brief. We’ll be looking over Granger Bay — a great location, within walking distance of the mall,” Lamont said.

The additional space translates more care into” , “more she added. science and

Two Oceans Aquarium researchers track several rehabilitated turtles released with satellite tags attached to their shells.

The aquarium’s most famous former turtle resident, Bob, spent eight years in rehabilitation before being released last year from a beach north of Durban. He then covered 2,760km in 56 days, enjoying the freedom of the swift-flowing Agulhas current.

Bob’s eight-year aquarium rehabilitation followed a nearfatal stranding.

He weighed only 16kg when rescued at De Hoop Nature Reserve but had ballooned to 86kg by the time he was released.

He had been found with severe bruising, scale loss and a possible fracture of the bottom shell.

He developed a severe infection and brain damage which scientists have linked to plastic contamination — Bob excreted a large quantity of plastic during rehab.

Upon recovery, he became a local ‘shellebrity’ and cause célèbre in the fight against ocean plastic pollution.

In a statement released on Friday, the Two Oceans Aquarium said all seven sea turtle species were either endangered or critically endangered — due largely to human behaviour.

The aquarium had successfully released over 1,000 rehabilitated turtles over the past 20 years.

“Turtles are among the oldest creatures on earth and have remained essentially unchanged for 110 million years.

“In that time, they have witnessed two major extinctionlevel events and have managed to survive and thrive,” the Aquarium said.

“While our present facilities at the aquarium have served us well, we have reached capacity as the number of turtles needing rehabilitation and longterm care is increasing every year,” said Talitha Noble-trull, Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation Turtle Conservation Centre manager.

“Our work with turtles is critical, given the impact of climate change and plastic pollution threatening all seven species.” —