Our Turtle Conservation Centre’s 8th annual Turtle Road Trip explored the West Coast
Every year, our Turtle Conservation Centre embarks on a road trip to spread awareness for turtle stranding season and connect with our Turtle Rescue Network. This year, for the first time, the team chose to explore the West Coast. While most Turtle Road Trips focus on hatchling stranding season, which is coming up in March, this year’s trip emphasised adult strandings.
Historically, the West Coast has proven to be an area of interest for adult turtles – the Turtle Conservation Centre has observed satellite-tagged turtles feeding and exploring here, while our Turtle Rescue Network has rescued many adult turtles in the area. With this in mind, the Turtle Road Trip aimed to share knowledge of turtles and how to rescue them, express the value of coastal communities in rescue efforts, and establish key network points.
Where and what did the team present?
The Turtle Road Trip presentation aimed to inspire curiosity and love of turtles by covering interesting aspects like lifecycle, conservation status, and eating habits, as well as educating audiences on proper protocol when coming across a stranded turtle. The key takeaway for each presentation was that one should never return a stranded turtle to the ocean and calling our Turtle Rescue Hotline (083 300 1663) immediately to await further instructions is vital. At each venue, the team tailored the language and energy of the presentation to suit the audience while emphasising all the key information.
The team’s first presentation was on 27 January 2025 at the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 34 in Yzerfontein. This was a particularly special starting point as, in 2014, a hawksbill turtle called Otto was rescued in an amazing display of community. The team’s presentation was met with much enthusiasm, with local conservation organisations joining an audience of NSRI, public, and municipal members.
Throughout the week, the team formed connections with local conservation organisations and rangers. During a presentation to SANParks rangers in the West Coast National Park, not only did the team impart valuable knowledge on how to safely rescue a turtle, but they also gained insight into turtle activity in the area. This became a common theme when speaking to locals and rangers alike, illustrating the incredible value of having “eyes on the ground”. Whether you’re a member of the public who walks the beach every morning or a ranger who patrols long stretches of coastline, the Turtle Rescue Network relies on you to help us rescue stranded turtles!
Snapshot moments from the Turtle Road Trip
In Saldanha, the team was thrilled to be able to visit the Port Control Tower, where they were afforded an aerial view of the bay. This was a great way to understand the landscape and how marine animals move when they come into the area.
In Strandfontein, plans for an evening swim were quickly dispelled when the team witnessed the after-effects of an oil spill. It was a sobering experience as the group wondered at the effects on the marine life in the area.
In Doringbaai, the team was introduced by Peter Uwies, an elder and leader in the local community. Peter acted as a great “hype-man” for the team and helped keep the audience of schoolchildren focused and attentive.
In Papendorp, the team was thrilled when their host handed out turtle fact sheets for each audience member to read out as an ice-breaker exercise. This was a great introduction for the small but very enthusiastic group.
Each audience asked fascinating questions. Here are a few:
What does it mean when satellite tags stop transmitting? The satellite tag’s battery has run out, or the tag has fallen off the turtle’s shell.
Is there sexual dimorphism in turtles? Male and female turtles look identical until they’re a bit older when a male turtle’s tail will be significantly longer than that of a female.
How does the plastic pass? Unfortunately, we cannot operate to remove plastic from a turtle’s stomach, so we have to wait for it to be excreted. Sometimes, we coat their food in lubricant to help the process.
Can you tell a turtle’s age? It is tricky to age turtles as they can slow their growth in periods of less food or colder temperatures. However, anything bigger than 60cm is likely an adult older than 15 years.
What is a TOPS permit? Turtles are listed under the Threatened or Protected Species Act (TOPS), and the law states that anyone handling them needs a permit. Our Turtle Conservation Centre is permitted, and if you help us rescue a turtle, you will be covered. Handling of turtles without a TOPS permit is illegal.
How many hatchlings has the Turtle Conservation Centre saved? To date, our programme has rescued and rehabilitated over 1 600 hatchlings.
What do baby turtles eat? In the wild, whatever they can - bits of fish, seaweed, even plastic. At the Turtle Conservation Centre, we make sure they get lots of nutrients and protein.
Overall, the 8th annual Turtle Road Trip was a great success. The team presented to approximately 405 people over five days, connecting with eager members of the community and inspiring a love of turtles. Without the incredible rescue efforts of members of the Turtle Rescue Network, our team wouldn’t have any turtles to rehabilitate. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to expand our network up the West Coast and broaden our impact on the conservation of turtle species in South Africa.
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