How to rescue stranded turtle hatchlings on SA’s West Coast

It’s that time of the year, folks: baby turtles become stranded on the shores of South Africa’s West Coast.

From late February until July, hundreds of loggerhead and leatherback turtle hatchlings end up stranded on the Cape’s beaches.

Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.

As you can imagine, it’s a shell-shocking experience for these hatchlings. That’s why it’s important to know how you can assist in their rescue.

WHY DOES TURTLE STRANDING OCCUR?

According to the Two Oceans Aquarium, loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline between October and December.

“Afterwards, thousands of newly hatched turtles venture into the warm, fast Agulhas Current, which flows along South Africa’s eastern coastline,” the aquarium explains. “As the current slows and turns at the Cape, many hatchlings are displaced into the colder coastal waters near the Benguela Current.”

The frigid waters increase the probability of dehydration and being cold-stunned. They’re also susceptible to plastic ingestion, physical injuries, and respiratory tract or ear infections.

In these torrid conditions, these baby turtles end up washed ashore on the West Coast.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Keep a sharp eye out for these hatchlings on your beach excursions. Image: Leo Mercon/ Canva

To help these baby turtles is to give them a second chance at life. So, it’s paramount to keep your eyes peeled for these critters while you’re out and about on the Cape’s beaches.

Hatchlings typically wash up along the high-tide line. More often than not, they are covered in barnacles and algae. This makes them difficult to spot, but it’s certainly not impossible.

If you do come across a stranded turtle hatchling, follow these vital steps:

• Do not place the hatchling back in the sea, as they may be too weak, stressed or injured to swim.
• Do not feed it, as feeding it the wrong food could worsen its condition.
• Contact the Turtle Rescue Network’s hotline at 083 300 1663. A coordinator will guide you in transporting the hatchling to safety with the aid of your closest Turtle Rescue Network point (these points are located along the West Coast).
• Transport the hatchling in an open container or, if possible, on a dry towel with padding.

Once rescued, these hatchlings undergo a medical assessment and a physical examination. They are then rehydrated, and their blood temperature is stabilised; they are monitored closely by the turtle centre team all the while.

The baby turtles will continue to receive care until they have recovered enough to be released back into the ocean during the summer months.

GIVE TURTLES A SECOND CHANCE

No one likes to see any animal, young or old, big or small, in peril. It can be quite scary seeing them at their most vulnerable.

That’s why, if you spot stranded turtle hatchlings, it’s crucial for you to remain calm so that you can help them immediately and increase their chances of survival.

Let us know in the comments below if you’ve ever had to rescue a stranded turtle before.

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