Conservation
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is dedicated to advancing conservation, marine wildlife welfare, and research initiatives for the good of our ocean. Building on the Two Oceans Aquarium’s ongoing efforts, many of the Foundation’s projects have expanded, reaching beyond Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to impact the broader South African coastline.
The Foundation’s flagship projects are the Turtle Conservation Centre, a sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and release programme, and the Marine Wildlife Management Programme. In collaboration with the V&A Waterfront, this programme pioneers the well-being and coexistence of wildlife and humans in an urban environment, exemplifying the Foundation’s commitment to impactful marine initiatives.
Conservation Programmes
Turtle Conservation Centre
The Turtle Conservation Centre actively supports the global recovery of sea turtle populations through rescue, rehabilitation, and release. With a dedicated and skilled team providing top-tier treatment, we tirelessly strive to offer a second chance at life in the ocean for these endangered animals. Our successful rehabilitation efforts encompass a variety of turtle species and ages, boasting an 85% release rate. By doing so, our team consistently adds valuable insights to the expanding global knowledge base on turtle rehabilitation and treatment plans.
Turtle Rescue Network
The Turtle Rescue Network was established to unite individuals and organisations along the Western Cape coastline with the shared goal of rescuing stranded turtles efficiently and securely. Designated Turtle Rescue Network Points are exceptional organisations and community groups equipped and trained to conduct swift and safe turtle rescues. Numerous members within this network provide temporary holding for stranded turtles, enabling us to coordinate their safe transport to the Turtle Conservation Centre.
Marine Wildlife Management Programme
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation boasts a team of wildlife monitors and specialists overseeing marine wildlife in the V&A Waterfront precinct, with regular consultations extending to marine wildlife operations throughout greater Cape Town. Employing data-driven solutions, the program aims to proactively mitigate negative human-wildlife interactions, such as providing resting spaces for Cape fur seals to deter intrusion on boats. Additionally, the team actively aids injured, distressed, or entangled animals.
Urban Otter Project
The Urban Otter Project was launched in 2022 in partnership with the V&A Waterfront, as part of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Marine Wildlife Management Programme. This initiative serves a dual purpose: Mitigating potential interactions between otters and humans while functioning as a research project. Our otter monitors actively collect data for the scientific study of Cape clawless otters, contributing valuable information to the global database daily.
#NOOW African penguin campaign
#NOOW, or #NotOnOurWatch, is a campaign spearheaded by the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation and supported by the Florida Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, and Zoos Victoria. Its primary objective is to heighten awareness of the urgent need for action to reverse the decline of the African penguin population in the wild. The campaign seeks support for informed decisions from relevant authorities regarding the future of the African penguins. Additionally, #NOOW aims to instil pride in African penguins as a distinctive and charismatic component of South Africa's incredible biodiversity.
