The turtle tribe has made remarkable strides since the Two Oceans Aquarium’s previous update. Bob, Pan, Turbo and Litchi have now collectively amassed an impressive total of 23 900 kilometres in a relatively short period.
With tracking data and educational insights provided by Talitha Noble, the conservation manager at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre, we now have a recent update on the travelling turtle tetrad.
Also read: Scuba weight repurposed to restore juvenile turtle’s balance and buoyancy
Bob’s journey
It has been 188 days since Bob, the cherished green turtle, was released on her oceanic journey. In this time, Bob has voyaged an astounding 9 500 kilometres, communicated via 1 600 tracking transmissions and navigated her way through or around 28 of South Africa’s 42 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Noble reports that her last interaction with Bob found her riding the surface currents of the Southeast Atlantic Ocean. Since April, she has been cruising through these surface eddies, and while these loops might seem haphazard, Bob’s actions reportedly exhibit her understanding of conserving energy and foraging for sustenance. This behaviour aligns with her previous focus on energy conservation and feeding during her rehabilitation at the Turtle Conservation Centre.
Bob now finds herself in close proximity (about 20 kilometres) to the Southeast Atlantic Sea Mounts, which are submarine mountains formed by volcanic activity. These seamounts are hubs of biological diversity, abundant in nutrients and marine life.
Pan’s expedition
Over a full year has passed since Pan, a juvenile loggerhead turtle rescued in 2019, embarked on his oceanic sojourn. This journey provides invaluable insights into the behaviours of juvenile loggerheads, thanks to Pan’s tracking tag.
According to Noble, her journey has taken him to the colder waters of the West Coast, where he has explored nutrient-rich regions. At one point, he reportedly ventured more than 1 000 kilometres offshore. After hugging the coastline in March and April, Pan has recently expanded his horizons, venturing 200 kilometres offshore from the Namibian border.
Pan’s tag has provided data for 7 700 kilometres of his voyage.
Turbo’s travels
Turbo, a spirited green turtle, has been navigating the seas for eight months, covering an impressive 3 900 kilometres. Like Pan, Turbo seems to favour the cold waters of the West Coast due to the abundance of food, despite cooler temperatures.
The Turtle Conservation Centre’s observations indicate that tagged turtles can tolerate chilly conditions when sustenance is available. Currently situated 80 kilometres west of Lamberts Bay, Turbo is likely enjoying delicacies such as algae, seaweed and plankton at the water’s surface.
Enjoy the beauty of the Cape’s coast on a one-hour cruise for R199 (valued at R300). Get it here.
Litchi’s voyage
Litchi, a green turtle released in January 2022, has traversed 2 800 kilometres thus far. After her release, Litchi embarked on a journey to De Hoop Marine Protected Area (MPA), and for the past 15 months, she has called De Hoop’s Skipskop her home, enjoying coastal waters that boast algae-rich environments and warmer temperatures around 20°C.
However, in June of this year, Litchi reportedly embarked on a new adventure, departing her safe haven and journeying up the coast towards Mossel Bay. After a considerable loop that took her 70 kilometres offshore, she returned to her familiar abode in De Hoop MPA.
Litchi has once again set her sights on exploring the coast, spending the initial days of August heading in an easterly direction.
Bob’s Stats:
- Days since release: 188
- Distance travelled: 9 500 kilometres
- Nearest town: Cape Agulhas
- Water depth: 5 000 metres
Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under 100k. Find car listings here.
Also read:
From feeding supervisor to certified diver, Xolela Mpetsheni earns his fins
Picture: Two Oceans Aquarium