A Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation first: Releasing three turtle species into De Hoop MPA

12 December, 2024 - Turtles, Marine Protected Areas, Conservation, Press Releases, Foundation, Blog

On 5 December 2024, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre team released four rehabilitated sub-adult turtles into the De Hoop Marine Protected Area (MPA). Solé and Plum (green turtles), iKhwezi (loggerhead turtle), and Harley (hawksbill turtle) represent an incredible first for the Turtle Conservation Centre.

“This was a particularly exciting release for the team as it was the first time in recent years that the Turtle Conservation Centre has had the privilege of releasing three different turtle species at the same time. This is a testament to the value of the De Hoop MPA for turtle conservation in the country and the continent,” said Talitha Noble-Trull, Conservation Manager of the Turtle Conservation Centre.

Sole5 — Solé was rescued in December 2023 from Koeberg Power Station.

Sole7 — Solé munched on some seagrass on route out of the reef!

Plum1 — Plum was rescued in Groot Brak in December 2023.

Plum6 — Plum explored the reef after entering the water.

Khwezi1 — iKhwezi was rescued in October 2024 in St Helena Bay.

Khwezi5 — iKhwezi spent a short time in rehabilitation so returned to the ocean with ease.

Harley1 — Harley was rescued in October 2022 in Arniston.

Harley8 — Harley sped towards the ocean!

To mark this unique turtle release, Noble-Trull and her team shared the experience with their dedicated volunteers, interns, and supporters. Each of these individuals plays a valuable role in the work of the Turtle Conservation Centre – combined with the significance of De Hoop MPA as a release site, this team of people are moving the needle for these three turtle species, all of which are listed as endangered.

TOAF2 — The turtle team and wonderful supporters.

Human dangers to wildlife and the dedicated individuals who help

Most of the turtles undergoing rehabilitation at the Turtle Conservation Centre arrive in poor health due to human-induced hazards. Entanglement in fishing gear, plastic ingestion, and boat strikes are the most common causes of sub-adult turtle strandings.

Without the support of the Turtle Rescue Network and its extended community, many of these turtles would not receive much-needed care and rehabilitation. The story of Solé, one of the green turtles released in De Hoop MPA, exemplifies the value of working together for conservation.

During routine checks of Koeberg Power station on 19 December 2023, staff noticed a small turtle in the facilities’ workings and immediately notified the Turtle Conservation Centre. After ensuring the safety of the rescue team and following Koeberg protocol, Solé was successfully rescued and received at the Turtle Conservation Centre.

Sole3 — On arrival at the Turtle Conservation Centre, Solé needed to be wrapped in blankets to raise her body temperature.

“Solé’s road to recovery was slow at first – they took a full month to exhibit healthy digestive movements. However, with a tailored rehabilitation programme in place and around-the-clock monitoring, Solé rapidly returned to health. We are grateful to the staff of Koeberg for thinking quickly to get help to this green turtle in distress. Once recovered, it was a thrill to be able to return our ‘turtle of the sun’ back to their wild ocean home,” said Alexandra Panagiotou, Turtle Enrichment Specialist.

De Hoop is an ideal turtle release site

It is a privilege to have De Hoop MPA as a tried and tested release site for the Turtle Conservation Centre. Declared an MPA in 1985, the value of De Hoop’s marine environment has long been recognised but, more recently, has been praised for what it has to offer turtle conservation along the southern coast of South Africa.

De Hoop MPA’s abundant coastal ecosystems and warmer waters are well-suited to the lifestyles of subadult turtles, particularly those of green and hawksbill turtles like Solé, Plum, and Harley.

What’s more, in partnership with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)’s Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP), the Turtle Conservation Centre fixed small acoustic tags on each of the four released turtles. These tags emit frequencies that are captured by receivers along the South African coastline, promising to add to the already growing tracking data from previous releases.

One of the main advantages of De Hoop MPA for turtle conservation is that there are six active acoustic receivers in this area alone. This coastal array of receivers provides an exciting opportunity to learn more about the movements and lifestyles of subadult green and hawksbill turtles, as well as a hope for future releases.