From February 16 to 23, the team from the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation Turtle Conservation Centre prepared for a trip east. They aimed to reach the Garden Route and Southern Cape coastline, and their goal was to enhance a rescue network before hundreds of at-risk hatchlings start to appear on the beaches.
As March approaches each year, a natural cycle quietly takes place offshore, as small sea turtles, disoriented by storms and cold fronts, are carried away from the warm Agulhas Current and find themselves stranded on the beaches of the Western Cape.
These turtles are often exhausted, dehydrated, and sometimes suffering from hypothermia. Without prompt assistance, many of them do not make it. This impending season is what motivates the annual Turtle Road Trip.
The week-long outreach campaign is not just about logistics. It is about people, as highlighted by Dyer Island Conservation Trust.
‘The Road Trip is about connecting with established and new partners to further the knowledge and know-how around turtle rescues along our coasts,’ said Talitha Noble-Trull, manager of the Turtle Conservation Centre.
She noted that the passion shown by coastal communities forms a critical backbone of turtle conservation efforts.
Across the province, more than 2 000 individuals form part of what Tracy Whitehead, Turtle Rescue Network Coordinator, describes as an ‘incredible Turtle Rescue Network’.
‘The Western Cape coastline boasts an incredible Turtle Rescue Network of over 2 000 people who are making a real difference to turtle conservation in South Africa,’ Whitehead said.
‘The Road Trip is an opportunity to meet these people face-to-face and show our appreciation.’
That gratitude was evident this past weekend on Sunday, February 22, when the team traveled to Kleinbaai, Gansbaai. The Whale Room at the Great White House was packed with local residents eager to learn how to properly handle encounters with stranded hatchlings.
‘The most important lesson we learnt is that you should never put these baby turtles back into the ocean,’ said Christine Wessels from Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust.
She clarified that instead of other methods, rescuers should carefully lift the turtle, put it on a soft cloth inside a well-ventilated container without water, making sure its tiny nails don’t get caught, and added they should then promptly contact the Turtle Rescue Hotline.
It’s a straightforward intervention, but timing is crucial. Stranded hatchlings need specialised care and rehabilitation before they can be safely returned to their natural habitat.
A stark reminder from Kruismansbaai
On February 4, 2026, members of the public notified the Dyer Island Conservation Trust about a dead loggerhead turtle discovered at Kruismansbaai near Danger Point. Initial evaluations indicate that the turtle likely died due to entanglement in abandoned fishing gear and ropes.
A biologist from the trust collected genetic samples to share with the Turtle Rescue Team. Additionally, the fishing gear was removed from the area to prevent any further injuries.
Lost or abandoned fishing equipment, often referred to as ‘ghost gear,’ remains one of the most persistent threats to marine wildlife.
Nets and ropes can drift for decades, entangling turtles, seals, dolphins and seabirds, as the impact is often prolonged and fatal.
Picture: Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust/Supplied
The Turtle Road Trip also served as a platform to thank local partners, including the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, both part of the broader Turtle Rescue Network.
Picture: Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust/Supplied
Marine biologists, tour guides, volunteers and even shark cage diving operators attended the Kleinbaai session.
‘It was incredible listening to this passionate team and learning more about the dangers of ghost fishing gear, nets and plastic pollution to these important role players in a healthy marine ecosystem,’ Wessels added, reflecting on the outreach session.
As hatchling season draws closer, organisers are urging residents, visitors and especially fishermen to dispose of fishing gear responsibly. Small preventative steps can significantly reduce harm.
Residents and visitors who encounter a stranded turtle are urged not to return it to the sea, but to contact the Turtle Rescue Hotline on 083 300 1663. Penguin rescues can be reported to +27 (0)82 907 5607.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Picture: Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust/ Supplied
