Welcome to the I&J Ocean Exhibit, Harley!

For the first time in the history of our Turtle Conservation Centre, we have introduced a hawksbill turtle into the Two Oceans Aquarium's I&J Ocean Exhibit! Welcome, Harley.

Harley’s rehabilitation story

Harley is a hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) who was rescued in Arniston in November 2022. Thanks to the quick work of our Turtle Rescue Network community, Harley was transported to the safety of our Turtle Conservation Centre. She was covered in algae and weighed just 2.6kg!

During the admission process, our veterinary team noticed that Harley had a persistent and raspy cough. After a round of X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans with “turtle dad”, Dr Peter Berndt, we discovered that Harley had a severe lung infection.

Thus began Harley’s intensive medical treatments, which eventually cured the stubborn infection by November 2023. A follow-up CT scan revealed that the infection was no longer active, a great sign of Harley’s progress. She was taken off medication and responded very well in the following months.

Finally, in March 2024, Harley’s latest CT scan revealed her lungs regained full health! Over the last few months, she has been growing steadily in her temporary home at the TCC and enjoys sunbathing and hiding in her cave. Now, she weighs an impressive 16kg!

Considering her wonderful progress, the turtle team decided to introduce Harley to the I&J Ocean Exhibit in late October 2024. The team observed as she cautiously made her way into the exhibit and breathed a sigh of relief as she quickly and calmly familiarised herself with the space. She even took a moment to explore a little cave!

Harley is well on her way to release but needs more time to heal and gain strength. The space of the I&J Ocean Exhibit will allow her to do just that, all while receiving enrichment activities and regular monitoring of her progress. As one of our long-term patients, this is also hugely beneficial in providing Harley with stimulation in an ocean-like environment.

Why has a hawksbill never been housed in the I&J Ocean Exhibit before?

One of the primary reasons the I&J Ocean Exhibit has never housed a hawksbill turtle is that they are typically smaller than our other patients. Most of the hawksbill turtles undergoing rehabilitation at the Turtle Conservation Centre weigh a maximum of 10kg, meaning they are happily suited to the smaller housing in our rehabilitation space. This gives the bigger turtles priority to move into the Exhibit.

The I&J Ocean Exhibit plays an important role as a “soft release” space, where turtles undergoing rehabilitation are given time to heal, be observed, engage in enrichment activities, and acclimatise before they are released. Given that they are notoriously picky with their nutrition, most of our hawksbill turtles are released as soon as they are healthy and stable, so they do not need this extra step.

So, Harley is our amazing “pioneer” hawksbill! At 16kg and as a long-term patient, she is a perfect fit for this next step of rehabilitation before release.

Not only is this the first time that a hawksbill turtle has been housed in the I&J Ocean Exhibit, but it is also the first time that three species of turtle can be seen in the space at once! Harley is joining fellow rehabilitation patients Kai, a loggerhead turtle, and Nori, a green turtle. This is an exciting opportunity for visitors to the Two Oceans Aquarium to witness three different species of sea turtles - green, loggerhead, and hawksbill - together, representing the diversity of the turtles found along our beautiful coastlines.