Turtle Rescue Network
Rescuing stranded sea turtles would not be possible without many people and organisations along the Western Cape coastline - our Turtle Rescue Network. While the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation hosts world-class rehabilitation facilities, we cannot patrol every stretch of the coastline at all times. In reality, stranded turtles are found by people, just like you, on family beach outings, fishing trips, or morning runs. The Turtle Rescue Network provides information about permitted organisations and volunteers that are able to work with turtles, to get a rescued turtle of any size to the safety of the Turtle Conservation Centre.
Turtle Network Points are situated all over the Western Cape's coastline, from Lamberts Bay all the way to Gqeberha. The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation works very closely with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Shark Spotters, SANPARKS, the South African Shark Conservancy, Dyer Island Conservation Trust, Lower Breede River Conservancy, Cape Nature, Whale Coast Conservation, Bayworld, and many incredible organisations and community groups to facilitate turtle rescues. Many members of the Turtle Rescue Network provide temporary holding for stranded turtles, from where we arrange their transport to the Turtle Conservation Centre. We salute our turtle rescuers!
Turtle Rescue Hotline: 083 300 1663
Call us to report stranded or distressed sea turtles on the Western Cape coast - we'll give you the information you need and coordinate efforts to get the turtle into the hands of trained veterinary staff at our Turtle Conservation Centre.
Turtle Rescue Network Points
Chanel Gemae Visser +27 72 317 2280
SANParks 044 382 1844
Christa Le Roux +27 72 070 7063
Drop-off points - Knysna Veterinary Clinic
- Christa Le Roux
- Zanri Strydom +27 72 885 5998
Jonathan Britton +27 84 714 7793
Zanri Strydom +27 72 885 5998
Tim Carr +27 71 683 4133
Drop-off points - via call confirmation
Jonathan Britton NSRI +27 0829905955
Minke Tolsma +27 0832717324
Drop-off points - via call confirmation
SMART hotline +27 72 227 4715
Hartenbos Animal Hospital 044 695 1086
Drop-off points - Hartenbos Animal Hospital or via call confirmation
Rene Hodges +27 82 341 0582
Fransmanshoek Conservancy Rangers +27 82 084 2791 / +27 82 416 0488
Drop-off points - via call confirmation
Nicky Mills +27 82 852 0120
Leonie Combrink (Stilbaai) +27 83 265 3515
Drop-off points - Nicky Mills or via call confirmation
Leonie Combrink +27 83 265 3515
Jean du Plessis Cape Nature / NSRI +27 79 496 4957
Drop off points - Leonie Combrink or by call confirmation
LBRCT Jason Oxley +27 83 375 4288
Cape Nature Brenton +27 71 793 3363
Xavier Zalstra +27 78 124 1997
Drop-off points - LBRCT offices Witsand or Tertia Meyer +27 084 511 1104
Lekkerwater - Tim Wells +27 63 019 3954
Morukuru - Corne +27 60 524 5432
Cape Nature - Mark Johns +27 74 626 2388
Cape Nature - Waseem Parker +27 64 840 0821
Drop-off points - Lekkerwater Lodge / Morukuru Ocean House or Bites or via call confirmation
Cornel +27 79 880 2343
Danette +27 76 179 0032
Suidepunt Security Awie +27 84 222 4567
Drop-off point - Etna Property Offices Arniston
Andre Cape Nature +27 71 112 5757
Mark Williams Cape Nature +27 62 272 5371
Drop-off point - Cape Nature office De Mond, Etna office Arniston, or by call confirmation
Leon Volker +27 78 039 4225
NSRI Jaco +27 82 903 5239
Drop-off point - 27 Main Rd with Leon, NSRI, or by call confirmation
Leon Volker +27 78 039 4225
Audrey Delsink +27 83 390 0337
Drop-off point - 27 Main Rd with Leon, NSRI, or by call confirmation
APSS (African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary) - Xolani +27 72 598 7117
Sarah (Pearly Beach) +27 83 427 5674
Mike Bayer +27 83 657 0191
Drop-offpoint - APSS or via call confirmation
Mike Bayer +27 83 657 0191
Cape Nature Pierre +27 83 236 2924
Michelle Watson +27 73 314 0674
Drop-off points - The Beanery Hermanus, Kogelberg Biosphere Rescue Centre, or via call confirmation
Shark Spotters +27 78 174 4244 / +27 71 350 5007
Evanne Rothwell +27 84 711 5413
SPCA Marine - John +27 64 363 4455
Drop-off points - Shark Spotters Muizenburg / Fish Hoek or via call confirmation
SANParks Owen Govender +27 82 881 7769
SANParks Jan +27 69 549 7224
SANParks Megan Taplin +27 83 650 8649
Drop-off point - viacall confirmation but ideally direct to TCC
Brett Glasby +27 76 722 1930
NSRI Jonathan +27 82 517 4375
Drop-off point - viacall confirmation but ideally direct to TCC
SANParks Megan Taplin +27 83 650 8649
NSRI emergency +27 82 990 5952
Drop-off point - viacall confirmation but ideally direct to TCC
Tracy Whitehead - Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator +27 83 300 1663
Turtle Conservation Centre 021 418 3823
Drop-offpoint - Two Oceans Aquarium
Tracy Whitehead - Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator +27 83 300 1663
Etienne (Veldrift) +27 82 066 3911
Drop-offpoint - Tracy in Langebaan or collection
Tracy Whitehead - Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator +27 83 300 1663
DFFE Soutie +27 82 634 5490
Cape Nature Callum Beattie +27 82 070 1873
Drop-offpoint - via call confirmation
Tracy Whitehead - Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator +27 83 300 1663
NSRI Maresa +27 84 618 7610
Abalobi - Alban +27 76 126 7831 or Jamie-Lee +27 71 846 8990
Drop-offpoint - NSRI contact or Abalobi hub.
Tracy Whitehead - Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator +27 83 300 1663
NSRI Strandfontein Tania +27 72 154 3887
Peter Horne DFFE +27 73 671 7797
Drop-offpoint - NSRI Strandfontein or via call confirmation
What to do if I find a stranded turtle?
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. Next, contact your nearest Turtle Rescue Point. The Turtle Rescue Network is fully equipped to transport the stranded turtle to the Turtle Conservation Centre, where they will be rehabilitated and eventually, released.
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