Two Oceans Aquarium calls on public to be on the lookout for stranded turtles.
Each year between April and June, a number of juvenile loggerhead turtles wash up on Cape Town beaches. Concerned citizens bring these stranded turtles to the Two Oceans Aquarium for rehabilitation. To date, five loggerhead hatchlings have been brought to the Aquarium and are undergoing rehabilitation.
The Aquarium is calling on all beachgoers to keep an eye open for these little sea turtles and to contact the Aquarium if they happen to find one.
What the public should do if they find a turtle on a Western Cape beach:
• Remove the turtle from the beach and DO NOT return the turtle to the sea
• Keep it dry and at room temperature – DO NOT place the turtle in water
• Place the turtle in a container that has ample air holes
• Contact the Aquarium on 021 4183823
• Make a note of exactly where the turtle was found
Please note: This advice is only valid for marine turtle strandings around the Western Cape. Should you come across a turtle elsewhere around the South African coast, please contact the local aquarium or animal rehabilitation centre.
Sea turtles are temperate water animals and when they are washed up on Western Cape beaches they are often suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and possibly infection.
The Two Oceans Aquarium rehabilitates the stranded turtles and once they are strong and healthy enough, they are released.
For further information please visit
http://www.aquarium.co.za/blog/entry/stranded_turtles_what_to_do or telephone 021 418 3823
