On Friday morning, 31st January 2014 ten Loggerhead Turtles were released into the warm Mozambique current which lies 10 nautical miles offshore.
They were taken out to sea by uShaka Sea World staff in a rubber duck after launching from Durban Ski-Boat Club.
All 10 of these juvenile Loggerhead Turtles (Carettacaretta) were flown to uShaka Sea World from Two Oceans Aquarium in 2012/13 after stranding on the beaches in and around Cape Town.
These juvenile turtles are naturally found in the warmer waters along the KZN coastline but occasionally find themselves in the wrong current and end up in the Cape. Unfortunately they cannot cope in the icy waters so by the time they strand on the Cape beaches they are generally in a pitifully compromised condition.
Two Oceans Aquarium staff carefully nurtured them back to health and, once stabilised, flew them to uShaka Sea World to prepare for release.
On arrival at uShaka Sea World they spent some time in quarantine before being moved to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, where they were closely monitored and given the opportunity to grow to a size which would improve their chances of survival in the ocean after their release.
It was a joyful occasion for the staff that had spent months looking after the turtles to hold them for the last time before loosening their grip and watching the turtles swim away into the deep blue ocean.
All 10 turtles stayed at the surface of the water for a short while before diving down and disappearing from sight.
Turtles are threatened worldwide by human impact. Threats include habitat loss and degradation, wildlife trade, collection of eggs and meat for consumption, incidental capture in commercial and subsistence fisheries, climate change and pollution.
Pollution is the biggest threat to turtles along the KZN coastline. Fortunately none of the turtles released were compromised by human activities – this time, the humans were the good guys!