Nori is a green turtle that was rescued in Witsand in May. After undergoing rehabilitation at the Two Oceans Aquarium’s Turtle Conservation Centre, Nori is spending her final stages of recovery as a resident of the I&J Ocean Exhibit, thriving in an environment that mirrors her natural habitat.
Nori was rescued in Witsand on 15 May 2023 and brought to the Turtle Conservation Centre. Initially, Nori seemed healthy, showing strong appetite, good body condition and active behaviour.
However, the turtle team noticed her unusual stress signs, including swimming in clockwise circles and biting her front flippers.
A neurological exam highlighted an issue with Nori’s right eye, lacking normal response to stimuli. On 11 July, an eye specialist clarified that both eyes were healthy, prompting a change in Nori’s care plan.
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She was moved to a larger housing for better observation and given sensory and feeding enrichment activities to aid her development.
These changes worked wonders, and Nori’s stressful behaviours ceased, marking a significant improvement.
She’s now in the final rehabilitation stage at the I&J Ocean Exhibit, benefiting from environmental enrichment and behavioural monitoring. This phase is crucial for addressing any residual neurological trauma.
The I&J Ocean Exhibit serves as an intermediary step, offering a ‘soft release’ into ocean-like conditions for turtles in rehab. This allows for close observation and treatment before their eventual release into the wild.
The Two Oceans Aquarium invites everyone to come and give a friendly welcome to Nori in the I&J Ocean Exhibit, and to see her inspiring recovery firsthand.
Details:
- Location: Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 6pm | Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 6pm
- Tickets: Day tickets and membership
- Contact: 021 418 3823
- Website: www.aquarium.co.za
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Picture: Two Oceans Aquarium