Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Rescue Network urges beachgoers to follow protocol for stranded turtles

Media Release

06 February 2025

Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Rescue Network urges beachgoers to follow protocol for stranded turtles

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre team appeals to anyone who comes across a stranded adult turtle to alert experts and not to return them to the water. An incident on 4 February 2025, where a loggerhead turtle was found stranded on a beach near Betty’s Bay, has made it clear that information and guidance for the public are needed for the benefit of injured turtles.

“A stranded turtle should never, under any circumstances, be returned to the ocean,” says Tracy Whitehead, Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator. “The trauma of stranding leaves turtles extremely vulnerable to drowning if they are unable to surface for breath. Instead, rescuers should phone the Turtle Rescue Hotline (083 300 1663) and keep the turtle sheltered from sun and wind while they wait for further instruction”.

The Turtle Rescue Network strongly urges beachgoers to follow these guidelines in the event of a turtle stranding:

• Never put the turtle back into the ocean.
• Call the Turtle Rescue Hotline on 083 300 1663 (Western Cape).
• With guidance from the Turtle Rescue Network, carefully move the turtle (making sure to support its underside) to a shaded area out of the sun and wind.
• The Turtle Rescue Network will organise transport to the Turtle Conservation Centre for assessment.

In this recent case, the turtle (a female of nesting age weighing 78kg) was entangled in the ropes of a marker buoy, which had cut into her front left flipper. The weight of the buoy exacerbated the injury while a thick layer of algae and marine leeches encrusted her shell and wounds. Before the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Rescue Network could be notified, the turtle was freed from the entanglement by well-meaning beachgoers and released back into the water. Unfortunately, this is often a death sentence for weak and injured turtles.

The situation was reported to Michelle Watson of Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Centre, who immediately contacted Whitehead via the Turtle Rescue Hotline. The Betty’s Bay Turtle Rescue Network was activated to be on the lookout in the likely event of the turtle re-stranding.

Around 18h30, the turtle was rediscovered by the same beachgoers. Via a WhatsApp video call, Whitehead explained that the best practice is to assume the turtle is alive and guided the rescuers to move her to a dry, sheltered place on the beach. In a commendable effort by Cape Nature officials and Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Centre staff, the turtle was carried over two hours along the beach to the waiting rescue vehicle driven by Turtle Rescue Network contact Michael Bayer.

Bayer rushed the turtle to the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre in Cape Town, where he was met by Senior Turtle Aquarist Alexandra Panagiotou just before midnight. Initially, the turtle exhibited some signs of life despite being extremely weak. Sadly, after monitoring the turtle’s vital signs into the small hours of the morning, Panagiotou pronounced her dead.

The autopsy by the Turtle Conservation Centre vets confirmed that the turtle had drowned. “We believe that the turtle’s injury from the entanglement, which was infested with leeches, caused her to become anaemic. Once the buoy was removed, she was too weak to hold her head up for breath and ultimately drowned,” says Panagiotou.

This loggerhead turtle’s passing is especially devastating in light of her considerable size, which indicates she was of breeding age – between 20 and 30 years old. In the wild, just one or two out of every 1 000 turtles survive to reach this stage. This means each adult turtle that is successfully rehabilitated and released by the Turtle Conservation Centre represents a critical opportunity for the continuation of these endangered species.

“Although this is a tremendous loss, we can use it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and continue to create awareness for adult turtle stranding and the importance of rescuing them,” said Tracy Whitehead, Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator.

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Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation