Bob the Green Turtle is swimming freely after spending eight years recovering and healing at the Two Oceans Aquarium; Now she can start the rest of her life!
Durban, South Africa (31 January 2023) – Bob the Green Turtle was released late last week after eight years of rehabilitation. She was fitted with a tracking device before making her own way back to the ocean.
A team made up of Two Ocean’s Aquarium and uShaka Marine World staff, stood by to watch her make her way back to the wild. Before the release, Bob was fitted with a tracker that would allow the teams to study her movements over the next few years.
According to the Two Oceans Aquarium, Bob has been fitted with four tags which each have a purpose. These help with the studies the team are doing. These studies help them and changemakers, fight to protect the areas that turtles use for breeding and feeding grounds.
Athlete and marathoner Karoline Hanks played a vital role in raising the funds needed to fit Bob’s tags. In 2021, she did the 13 Peaks Challenge twice! You can read about her incredible efforts here.
The Aquarium took to its social media to bid Bob farewell, and thank everyone who contributed to her care and release over the last eight years.
“Our beloved Bob has officially been released!
After 8 years of rehabilitation at the Two Oceans Aquarium, and a week-long stay with Saambr at uShaka Marine World, today marks Bob’s return to her ocean home!
While we’re all going to miss Bob dearly, we’d like to wish her a lifetime of happiness and endless adventures as she embarks on this exciting journey. We’d also like to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone who’s contributed to Bob’s successful rehabilitation and ultimately, her return home.”
Bob the Green Turtle had been at the Two Oceans Aquarium since November 2014. She was found severely injured at the De Hoop Nature Reserve.
Her story starts after her rescue – she was injured and underweight for her age, weighing only 16.6kgs. Bob had severe bruising and a possible fracture of the bottom shell known as the plastron. She also had a loss of scales and exposed bone. Her name was inspired by the fact that she was too buoyant and “bobbed” around the tank.
Over the span of eight years, the team at the Two Oceans Aquarium prepared her for a release back into the wild. The Indian Ocean was the best place for her release as the warmer water was much more her temperature and it’s closer to the popular Green Turtle breeding grounds along the Mozambican and KwaZulu-Natal coastlines.
The Two Oceans Aquarium will keep everyone updated on her progress so follow them on Facebook for all the details. Good luck Bob! Swim freely and we will be sure to keep up our efforts of keeping the ocean pollution and plastic-free!
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