Early this morning, Brett Glasby of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Marine Wildlife Management Programme orchestrated a careful rescue mission involving a 600-kilogramme ocean sunfish (Mola mola) trapped in a dry dock.
According to Devon Bowen of the Two Oceans Aquarium, the incident began last night when Johan Coetzee, the manager of the Transnet Robinson Dry Dock, alerted the Two Oceans Aquarium about the trapped sunfish.
Transnet staff quickly ceased pump operations and kept an eye on the gentle giant until assistance arrived.
Also read: Turtle with a missing flipper and plastic ingestion makes strides in recovery
The dry dock water was lowered to waist height and the team cautiously approached the sunfish to minimise stress and prevent injury in the shallow water.
‘Simon Brill and I had the opportunity to feel around for the sunfish under the water and only really got the chance to fully appreciate its impressive size once we’d lifted it to the surface,’ said Martine Viljoen of the Marine Wildlife Management Programme.
‘While we were guiding it to the stretcher, I could feel the strong flow of water being expelled from its gills and kept a close watch on its fascinating eyes while we protected it. These rescues are an incredible opportunity to get close to such unique animals, a definite reminder of just how rough the skin of a sunfish can be, but also just how gentle they are.’
This sunfish, measuring 1.66 metres in length and 2.11 metres from fin-to-fin, is reportedly among the larger creatures rescued by the Two Oceans Aquarium team.
Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under R100 000. Find car listings here.
The rescue provided a rare opportunity for close examination and collection of genetic and parasitic samples, contributing to global research on these enigmatic marine animals.
Using a solid stretcher, the team, with assistance from Teemane Cranes, carefully hoisted the sunfish from the dry dock onto a waiting aquarium boat.
Claire Taylor, part of the rescue team and boat skipper, expressed her joy in releasing the sunfish back into the ocean.
‘It’s always a pleasure to be able to release these sunfish outside of the harbour into the open water where we know they are supposed to live. I love working with such an awesome team; we couldn’t bring something like this together if we weren’t surrounded by people passionate about ocean animals,’ she said.
The successful rescue was a collaborative effort involving Transnet, Teeman Cranes, the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School and members of the public.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation encourages ocean-goers to report sunfish sightings.
Reports can be sent via WhatsApp to 076 092 8573 or [email protected].
Please include photos, videos, location, date, time and observed behaviours in your reports.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city, at half the price? Get exclusive offers here.
Also read:
