More turtle hatchlings wash up around Plett
With the strong easterly wind and rough seas over the past week, nature conservationists have made a renewed call for beachgoers to be on the lookout for turtle hatchlings washing up on CX shores.
Every year between March and May, large numbers of tiny endangered loggerhead turtles and sometimes leatherback turtles wash up on beaches along the South African coast.
Several turtle hatchlings have been found along Robberg beaches over the past week and nature conservationists have called upon those walking along the coast, to keep an eye out of these tiny marine creatures.
Nesting season on the KwaZulu-Natal coast is usually between October and December and the hatchlings often drift into colder Cape waters where the vulnerable babies end up beaching along the coastline.
Rescued turtles are transported to the Two Oceans Education Foundation’s facilities in Cape Town or to Bayworld in Gqeberha.
What to do with a beached baby turtle
The team urged beachgoers to always collect turtles from the beach, whether they are dead or alive. "Often they appear dead due to a slowed metabolism," the team said.
They also urged beachgoers to not place the turtles back into the water. The turtles should be collected in a small, well-ventilated tub with a dry towel at the base of the container. "Make sure to keep it out of direct sunlight and wind. Do not wet or attempt to feed them."
The rescuers should then contact the Plett Marine Stranding Network on 079 463 4837.
According to the Two Oceans' 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.
They 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.
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 from Gqeberha to Lamberts Bay. Turtle rescue network points are dropoff and collection points for stranded turtles, from where logistics are arranged to get the turtles to the centre for rehabilitation.