Cape Town - More than 60 turtles rehabilitated at the Two Oceans Aquarium over the past year have been released about 45 nautical miles south of Hout Bay.
The turtles were found stranded on various Western Cape beaches.
In total, the sea turtle rehabilitation team of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation released 65 hatchlings, one hawksbill, and three green turtles.
“It’s always a terrifying thrill to release our turtles! Release is the ‘why’ for all the work we do – turtles belong in their ocean home – but it’s also terrifying because humans have made their home unsafe,” said Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation conservation manager Talitha Noble.
“With each turtle released, the importance of taking action towards protecting the ocean is cemented deeper.”
After months of rehabilitation, the turtles were cleared for release by the vet.
Some have been tagged with satellite tags to enable them to be tracked and others with microchips, similar to those used in house pets.
On the morning of the release, all the turtles were packed into travel crates, transported to Hout Bay harbour and loaded onto two boats.
The team and crew headed out for roughly 45 nautical miles to encounter the warmer currents that can be found south of Cape Town during summer.
Once the temperate waters were reached, the turtles were released into 19.5°C blue water to the great joy and jubilation of all on board.
According to the aquarium, there were 157 hatchling strandings this year, of which 40 were sent to uShaka Marine World earlier in the year.
Sixty-five of the post-hatchling loggerhead turtles at the Two Oceans Aquarium were cleared for release, while some of the smaller turtles needing extra care remained in the rehabilitation programme.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is the NPO/PBO partner of the Two Oceans Aquarium.
The foundation relies on donations to continue its work in conservation, education and research. Please visit www.aquariumfoundation.org.za to learn more about their work and donate or support.
Cape Times