Established by the Two Oceans Aquarium in 2018, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is a registered non-profit and public benefit organisation based in Cape Town. The Foundation is dedicated to informing and inspiring all to connect with and protect our ocean and the natural world through conservation, awareness, research, and education.
The Turtle Conservation Centre is a major part of the Foundation's conservation work. Annually, our vast network of public volunteers rescues dozens of stranded sea turtles on the South African coast. They are rehabilitated and released back into the wild, thanks to the world-class facilities managed by the team at our Turtle Conservation Centre.
Quick facts
Natural history:
- Sea turtles belong to the superfamily Chelonioidea, part of the order Testudines, including tortoises, terrapins and freshwater turtles.
- There are seven species of sea turtle in the world, five of which visit South African shores. All seven are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest from October to February on beaches in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa's East Coast.
- Female turtles return to the same beach every season to lay their eggs. Guided by the earth’s magnetic field, they are oriented towards the beaches they imprinted as hatchlings.
Turtle Conservation Centre:
- On average, 80 rescued turtle hatchlings are cared for annually.
- On average, rehabilitation and release costs R10 000 per hatchling.
- 73 rescued hatchlings have arrived so far in 2023
- 71% of turtle hatchlings that have arrived at the Turtle Conservation Centre have ingested plastic pollution while in the wild.
- The Turtle Conservation Centre has an 85% release success rate, meaning we are able to save 85% of stranded and/or injured sea turtles that reach our Centre.
- 62 turtles were successfully rehabilitated and released in 2022.
Turtle Conservation Centre
Why
In the wild, sea turtle hatchlings (offspring) face many natural threats and fewer than one in 500 sea turtle hatchlings survive to adulthood. Today, this survival rate is even worse due to the increased pollution, climate change, and other artificial hazards caused by human activity.
All five of the sea turtle species that occur in South Africa (loggerhead, leatherback, green, hawksbill, and olive ridley turtles) are endangered due to human action. These factors include but are not limited to plastic pollution, climate change, overfishing, abandoned fishing equipment (e.g. ghost nets), boat strikes, and poaching. These threats have caused concerning population declines – this is why the Turtle Conservation Centre works on the rehabilitation of all five of these species.
Because loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest on the northern beaches of South Africa, such as KwaZulu-Natal's coast, they make up the majority of rescued turtles that reach the Turtle Conservation Centre. Emerging from their nests, the hatchlings enter the warm Agulhas Current, which carries them south along the Western Cape coastline. Weakened, injured, or unlucky hatchlings risk being ejected into the colder Benguela Current, becoming cold-stunned and stranded along the Western Cape shores.
The other three turtle species (green, hawksbill, and olive ridley) do not nest in South Africa but frequent our waters in search of feeding grounds. These turtles may become stranded as adults or sub-adults for a variety of reasons. These include plastic ingestion (which can suffocate them or cause severe internal injury), entanglement in ghost fishing gear, or injuries sustained from boat collisions or predators.
Each turtle is unique, which is why individual care at the Turtle Conservation Centre is prioritised!
What we do
The Turtle Conservation Centre, one of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's flagship programmes, was launched in 2020. The centre's primary goals are to rescue, successfully rehabilitate, and release endangered turtles in the Western Cape. We aim to improve the survival statistics of these endangered species, working around the clock to contribute to the global conservation efforts for the recovery of turtle numbers.
Rescue: The Turtle Conservation Centre facilitates the Turtle Rescue Network. Under the direction of our Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator, this network guides trained members of the public, conservation organisations, and coastal business owners to locate and transport stranded turtles. Together, the team orchestrates the rescue of hatchling, sub-adult, and adult turtles that are stranded along the Western Cape coastline. These turtles are transported to the safety of the Turtle Conservation Centre where they are admitted to the rehabilitation programme by our veterinary staff. Every rescue begins with the actions of a vigilant member of the public, and none of the successes of the Turtle Conservation Centre would be possible without this support.
Rehabilitate: The Turtle Conservation Centre treats turtles with a wide range of health issues. Some simply require time to rest and regain strength, while others require more intensive care. Our veterinary team has treated issues such as flipper amputations, plastic ingestion, respiratory tract infections, hypothermia, and neurological damage. During the final stages of rehabilitation, many of the larger turtles enjoy the space in the I&J Ocean Exhibitat the Two Oceans Aquarium to strengthen their limbs and get them fit for release.
Our turtle vet, Dr Bernice van Huyssteen, provides expert knowledge and an high standard of care for our turtle patients. She regularly conducts clinical health checks, developing individual medical plans guided by each turtle's unique condition. The work conducted at the Turtle Conservation Centre adds to the global (and growing) database on turtle conservation and treatment practices.
Since its inception in 1995, the Two Oceans Aquarium has successfully rehabilitated and released over 1 000 turtles - more than half of these have been in the last four years under the care of the Two Ocean Aquarium Foundation's Turtle Conservation Centre.
Release: It is the aim of the Turtle Conservation Centre to return every rescued turtle, big or small, to the ocean in a healthy state so that they are able to contribute to the survival of their endangered species. This journey is guided by the circumstances of each turtle, informing the rehabilitation and eventual release plans. Whether rehabilitation takes a few weeks or many years, a turtle will only be released once our veterinary team is confident in it's full readiness for life in the wild. The Turtle Conservation Centre has achieved an incredible 85% successful release rate!
Turtle tagging and tracking
Turtles spend most of their lives at sea, making them difficult for researchers to properly study. In an effort to bridge this gap, researchers use tagging technology to better understand these species. Tagging is instrumental to marine science and conservation, allowing researchers to track turtles’ movement patterns, nesting sites, growth rates, and distribution.
The knowledge provided by tagging data is a window into the elusive world of turtles, giving insight into how we, as humans, can help to conserve turtle populations.
What kinds of tags are used at the Turtle Conservation Centre?
Flipper tagging is the most commonly used method for tracking turtles due to its simplicity. A flipper tag is a small, unobtrusive metal device on the turtle’s flipper. Stamped onto each tag is a unique numeric code, used to identify the turtle and provide scientists with important information, such as the date it was tagged, the place of release, and the contact details of the rehabilitation centre. When flipper tagging, it is vital that one places the tag correctly so it does not hinder the turtle's movement or natural behaviours at all.
Passive integrated transponders (PIT) are tiny capsules injected under the skin, usually into the shoulder muscle. PIT tags are microprocessors sealed in glass that provide information when scanned. When a scanner is passed over the PIT tag, it can detect the tag's unique code. PIT tags are one of the most reliable methods with low failure rates, as they are small and last a lifetime.
Acoustic tags are externally attached to a turtle's carapace (top shell). Acoustic receivers, strategically placed along the coastline of South Africa, receive the periodic pings emitted by the tag. Transmissions can range from 1km to 25km. Acoustic tags are especially suited to juvenile green and hawksbill turtles, which tend to be more coastal in this phase of their lives.
Satellite tags are radio transmitters that are attached to the turtle’s carapace. These tags emit signals that are detected at certain time intervals by satellites orbiting the Earth. Locations with varying accuracy can be assigned, depending on the signals received from individual tags. Satellite tags can provide GPS coordinates, dive time, depth, swimming speed, and even water temperature. This information can be used to plot the turtle’s path around the world.
Tagged turtles can be tracked for anything from days to years, with study duration determined by battery life, attachment efficacy, and data complexity.
When released, larger sea turtles are usually tagged, while hatchlings are chipped so they can be identified should they get stranded somewhere else. The tracking data contributes to the global database of sea turtle movements.
Tracking tales from the Turtle Conservation Centre
The Turtle Conservation Centre has tagged and tracked numerous turtles since its inception, some of which have particularly inspiring stories.
Yoshi, the loggerhead turtle:
In July 1997, an injured 2kg juvenile loggerhead turtle in need of help was brought to the Two Oceans Aquarium by the captain of a Japanese fishing vessel. Yoshi's rehabilitation needs helped the Aquarium staff gain confidence in turtle husbandry. This prompted the beginning of a successful turtle rehabilitation programme.
In 20 years, Yoshi reached sexual maturity as she grew to a formidable 180kg. After much research and discussion, it was decided that she should be released into the ocean. This was achieved on 16 December 2017. Yoshi paved the way for our future turtle conservation efforts by being fitted with a satellite tag before release.
We followed her journey along the west coast of Africa to Namibia and Angola. She then turned and headed east past Cape Town, and headed towards Australia. After three years of tracking and 40 011km of swimming, the satellite tag's battery ran out while Yoshi was exploring Australian waters. Yoshi’s journey is the longest recorded sea turtle journey ever tracked, in both distance and in time. It is also the longest distance tracked for any marine animal.
Sandy, the green turtle:
In September 2016, a sub-adult green turtle in terrible condition was found in Witsand. Five deep gashes through its carapace had exposed lung tissue, possibly a result of damage from boat propellers. During her rehabilitation, Sandy's wounds were painstakingly cleaned and disinfected until her carapace was completely healed. Finally, in December 2018, she was released alongside Noci, a juvenile loggerhead turtle, and fourteen loggerhead hatchlings.
Sandy and Noci were among the first turtles to be rescued and brought to the Turtle Conservation Centre (then, the Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release Programme) for the purpose of rehabilitation. Sandy was also the first green turtle tagged by the programme.
Litchi, the green turtle:
In February 2021, a 7kg green turtle covered in hundreds of leeches was rescued from a beach in the De Hoop Marine Protected Area (MPA). This special turtle, Litchi, underwent just over a year of rehabilitation in the Turtle Conservation Centre before being released in January 2022, equipped with a satellite tag.
For 473 days, Litchi enjoyed the De Hoop MPA, which is renowned for its biodiversity and abundant marine life. The protections of the MPA provided ample feeding opportunities and her movements within the MPA provided the Turtle Conservation Centre with valuable insights into the coastal movements of juvenile green turtles. In 553 days (1.5 years), we received 2 190 transmissions from Litchi's tag as she covered about 2 900km. Of these 553 tracked days, 499 were spent inside the De Hoop MPA! Her tag stopped transmitting on 3 August 2023.
Pan, the loggerhead turtle:
During stranding season in April 2019, a loggerhead turtle hatchling weighing only 49.5g was rescued in Struisbaai. Unfortunately, Pan developed a recurring ear and bone infection which prevented him from being released with his cohort. Eventually, a successful ear surgery cleared Pan of infection and he was released in July 2022, fitted with a satellite tag.
Since his release two years ago, Pan has travelled Xkm! Pan's satellite tracker lost contact after 631 days of ocean exploration, which is quite remarkable - as a young turtle, his growing shell could have shed the tag much earlier. Pan explored much of the west coast of South Africa, becoming known as our Namibian explorer as he enjoyed our neighbour's waters.
Bob, the green turtle:
In November 2014, an injured sub-adult green turtle was rescued in De Hoop Nature Reserve weighing 16.6kg. The severity of her injuries was just the tip of the iceberg: Infection spread, resulting in brain damage and impaired vision. Three months into her rehabilitation, Bob pooped out several plastic bags and balloons, some with their strings still attached. Our vets believed her to be unreleasable.
However, Bob prevailed against all odds and, with the support of an intense enrichment programme to stimulate wild behaviours, she was finally released in January 2023 into the warm waters of KwaZulu-Natal. The confirmation in May 2023 that Bob is female is a profound illustration of the value of rehabilitation.
Bob has been an incredible ambassador and messenger for the human-induced plastic crisis in the ocean. Her satellite tag tracking updates were avidly followed by thousands of people. Despite being released in Durban, Bob proved herself a true Capetonian as she spent the first six weeks back in the ocean riding the Agulhas Current all the way back to the Turtle Conservation Centre's doorstep.
Her tag stopped transmitting on 3 October 2023. The Turtle Conservation Centre had the great privilege of tracking Bob for 249 days (about eight months), 12 656 km, and through over half of South Africa’s 42 MPAs!
Nobomvu, the loggerhead turtle:
In July 2021, a female loggerhead turtle weighing 54.9kg was found in Gansbaai, completely entangled in a ghost fishing net of the roughly the same weight. It took 13 volunteers to rescue her! The "Red Lady", named for the unusually red colouration of her head and carapace, had a rollercoaster rehabilitation journey at the Turtle Conservation Centre.
A month after her arrival, our vets discovered osteomyelitis (a bone infection caused by bacteria) in Nobomvu’s right flipper, a secondary effect of traumatic injuries and compromised immune systems. During her rehabilitation, Nobomvu underwent two surgeries, several CT scans, and multiple other veterinary tests.
Finally, healthy and strong, Nobomvu was released in December 2023 fitted with a satellite tag. Our Turtle Conservation Centre is currently tracking her as she explores the ocean. Thus far, Nobomvu has travelled 4 550km, an average of a full marathon per day, a remarkable achievement for a turtle that could barely use her flippers just a year and a half ago.
Quote the expert
- "Our Turtle Rescue Network is currently about 1 800 strong - this network of turtle-minded members of the public, conservation organisations, and businesses spans across the Western Cape," says Tracy Whitehead, Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator.
- "The Turtle Rescue Network is the most incredible accumulation of people and organisations across the Western Cape coast. It astounds me with every rescue. This network developed over a period of time when we understood that we have an annual season for hatchling strandings in the Cape and that this phenomenon occurs across such a vast stretch of coastline. We need the people out there across this vast area, in each place, to be our eyes on the beaches. This created the need for training, education and awareness for every person in every place along with various levels of support and this evolves continuously. Each rescue includes direct contact, support, and guidance via the hotline and, lastly, the coordination of moving each turtle from its place of rescue to the TCC. So the network is multilayered, a critical aspect of rescue and is integral to turtle conservation," says Tracy Whitehead, Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator.
- "With the survival to adulthood numbers being as low as 1 possibly 2 in a 1000, these endangered animals need all the help they can get. Human impact is in many ways responsible for declining numbers so through rescue we are making a difference. Every turtle that strands will almost 100% die if not rescued so by doing so and releasing again when healed and strong, we can change the odds. The phenomenon of hatchlings stranding on the Cape coast puts us in a unique position to rescue many tiny turtles guaranteed to have died and get them back out to the ocean. Learn from them to be able to protect them better in the future and with adults, it's imperative after they have survived so much already to rescue and heal them and give them a real strong second chance," says Tracy Whitehead, Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator.
- "Rehabilitation encompasses everything that goes into readying a turtle for release back into the ocean, from feeding programmes and cleaning schedules to monitoring their plastic egestion and giving them enrichment activities to stimulate wild behaviours," says Alexandra Panagiotou, Turtle Enrichment Specialist.
- "Rehabilitation encompasses everything that goes into readying the turtle for release back into the ocean, from feeding programmes and cleaning schedules to monitoring their plastic egestion. For turtle hatchlings, rehabilitation typically takes around 4 – 12 months while adult turtles' time can vary depending on the severity of their condition," says Talitha Noble-Trull, Conservation Manager.
- "At the Turtle Conservation Centre, we use the I&J Ocean Exhibitat the Two Oceans Aquarium as a 'soft release' space. By allowing the turtles to gradually become acclimatised to a new environment before they are released, the turtle’s consequent success in readjusting in the wild is positively impacted," says Talitha Noble-Trull, Conservation Manager.
- "Whether a turtle's rehabilitation process takes a few weeks or several years, our team is dedicated to returning each of these precious patients to their ocean home. Not only is release a chance for the turtles to contribute to the survival of their species, but it is also an invaluable way for us to learn more about their movements and how to protect them through satellite tagging and tracking," says Talitha Noble-Trull, Conservation Manager.
- “Nobomvu taught me everything I know about turtle conservation and rehabilitation. Her journey to recovery has been a rollercoaster, but she bravely overcame all the challenges that faced her. Turtle releases are bittersweet – you build an amazing relationship with these animals but always want to see them free in a healthy ocean. I am forever grateful to have been a part of her story!” explained Ayesha Cornelius, Sea Turtle Aquarist.
- “At the Turtle Conservation Centre, we consider turtles as ancient symbols of resilience, guiding us to remember the importance of living in harmony with nature to ensure its well-being for future generations,” said Talitha Noble-Trull, Conservation Manager at the Turtle Conservation Centre.
- “In the last eight years, the Turtle Conservation Centre has received seven live green juvenile/sub-adult turtles from the De Hoop Marine Protected Area, with the beloved Bob as the most well-known. This evidence made clear to our team at the Turtle Conservation Centre that this is an area of significance for the conservation of turtle populations,” said Talitha Noble-Trull, Conservation Manager at the Turtle Conservation Centre.
- “In sea turtles, the males and females are genetically the same. Turtles’ sexes are determined by the temperature of the sand in which they hatch: if the eggs incubate in temperatures below 27.7°C, they will be male, while temperatures above 31°C will result in more female hatchlings. Therefore, male and female turtles' genetics are the same. This is called temperature-dependent sex determination," says Dr Bernice van Huyssteen, Turtle Veterinarian at the Turtle Conservation Centre.
- "Imagine being born buried, having to dig your way out, run a gauntlet to get to the water where you actually belong and that's just the start ....the dangers just go on including then pollution, bycatch, trafficking, habitat loss...turtles are just intriguing and inspiring to me. Against all odds they hang in .... and they are ancient in design with so many unknowns still .... like how they find their way back to where they were born! When you work with them and see each individual personality, their feisty attitude and determination, it's hugely fulfilling to know that you are helping," says Tracy Whitehead, Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator.
Frequently Asked Questions
All of the turtles at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's Turtle Conservation Centre are there solely for rehabilitation. The majority are loggerhead turtle hatchlings - after hatching along the beaches of northern KwaZulu-Natal, these little turtles enter the warm Agulhas Current and follow it south towards the colder waters of the Western Cape. Many of these wash up along our shores as a result of the cold temperatures and rougher seas.
Sub-adult and adult sea turtles also strand in the Western Cape. These turtles are usually victims of more serious ailments and display extensive external physical injuries from boat strikes or entanglement in ghost fishing gear. Many suffer from plastic ingestion, too.
Big or small, all of the turtles at the Aquarium Foundation's Turtle Conservation Centre are there for rehabilitation. As soon as they are deemed strong and healthy enough by our veterinary team, they are released into the ocean.
All of the turtles at the Turtle Conservation Centre stay in our team's care for as long as necessary for them to make a full recovery. This is highly dependent on the individual turtle, the extent of their injuries and trauma, and how well their bodies recover.
For some turtles, like Bob the green turtle, this may mean nearly a decade of rehabilitation. For others, like the loggerhead turtle hatchlings which strand on our coastline every year, this period is much shorter as their recovery is generally more straightforward.
Yes. Our ultimate goal in turtle rehabilitation is to release back into the ocean once each turtle is healthy and strong enough. We have achieved an incredible 85% release rate, and our team continues to contribute to the growing global knowledge base of turtle rehabilitation and treatment plans.
Finding an injured turtle can be daunting when you aren’t sure what to do, but our Turtle Rescue Network can help.
The most important thing to remember is don’t put the turtle back into the water. If the turtle is injured, shocked or dehydrated, it won’t be able to swim away. Contact your nearest Turtle Rescue Point – they are permitted to rescue stranded turtles. Stay with the stranded turtle, try to keep it shaded from the elements, and don't attempt to pick it up - the Turtle Rescue Network will coordinate, collect the turtle from the beach, and transport it to the safety of the Turtle Conservation Centre.
If you'd like to get an exclusive glimpse of the Turtle Conservation Centre, you can book a Behind the Scenes Tour! This your opportunity to peek behind the closed doors of the Two Oceans Aquarium, to see the people, systems, and little-known areas that keep our underwater world alive.
The Two Oceans Aquarium's I&J Ocean Exhibit temporarily houses turtles undergoing the final phase of their rehabilitation with the Turtle Conservation Centre. These turtles will live in this exhibit for a while before being released back into the ocean. Check out the I&J Ocean Exhibit on your next visit to the Aquarium and see if you can spot some turtles!
The easiest way to tell the difference between a turtle, a tortoise, and a terrapin is by its habitat. A turtle (or sea turtle) lives in the sea, a tortoise is solely terrestrial, and a terrapin lives in freshwater.
Turtles spend most of their lives in the ocean and only come to land when laying their eggs. Their flippers propel them through the ocean, and their flattened shells keep them streamlined. Turtles cannot retract into their shells. Depending on the species, turtles' diets vary from herbivores to carnivores.
Tortoises live only on land. They are easily identifiable by their domed shell and stocky legs with clawed feet. When threatened, tortoises can withdraw completely into their shells. Tortoises are herbivorous.
Terrapins are often spotted in waterholes or dams. Their clawed, webbed feet allow them to swim and walk on land. They can retract their heads sideways and not backwards into their shells. Terrapins are omnivores.
South Africa's ocean is home to five species of sea turtle - some of which are temporarily housed at the Two Oceans Aquarium in our I&J Ocean Exhibit while undergoing rehabilitation with our Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre. Aquarium visitors may notice that the turtles in the I&J Ocean Exhibit are rather diverse in appearance. But have you ever wondered how to tell them apart?
Turtles cannot be distinguished by looking at their colour alone, as this is highly variable in most species. Instead, we look at the shape of the head, bill, body, and carapace (shell). One of the primary methods of differentiating turtle species is looking at the number of scutes (shell plates) on their carapace. Learn how to tell the difference between turtle species here.
Turtle Infographics
