His unique rescue at the uMzimkhulu Estuary mobilised a stranding network and local swimmers for an unusual mission, and brought joy to scientists intrigued by his movements. This male Green sea turtle has now been given a name and safely released to the place where he was first discovered.
uMzimkhulu River, South Africa (21 October 2025) – In a wonderful full-circle moment, a stunning green sea turtle, whose rescue showcased a remarkable collaboration for conservation, has returned to the very place he once called home!
Last month, Good Things Guy reported on the rescue operation of two large Green sea turtles that were unknowingly trapped in a cordoned-off section of the uMzimkhulu estuary, where construction workers working on a nearby bridge had adjusted the river mouth to carry out their work.
One of the turtles, a female, was released shortly after her rescue. The other turtle, a male weighing almost 110kg, was transported to uShaka Sea World at the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) for observation, DNA sampling and satellite tagging.
According to the SAAMBR, this admission offered scientists the rare opportunity to track male sea turtles along the KZN coastline.
“This large green turtle gave us a chance to learn more about the oceanic movements of male green turtles.”
The shelled creature, now affectionately known as “Andy”, was named after Andy Coetzee, who assisted in the planning and rescue of both animals cordoned-off estuary.
Before being released back into the wild, Andy was fitted with four different tags: a flipper tag which will serve as a unique external identifier; an acoustic tag, which will ping the series of acoustic receivers along the southern African coast; a PIT tag, which is retained for long periods under the skin and can assist with later identification; and finally, a satellite tag for long-distance tracking.
Reflecting on the brief time shared with Andy, Turtle Rehabilitation Specialist Timothy Smith shares:
“Andy was an easy patient as he was in excellent condition, fed well, and exhibited normal behaviours.”
He’s now safely returned to the estuary, and the SAAMBR team is hopeful that the satellite tag, which Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation kindly donated, will transmit information regarding his location and movements.
Sources: SAAMBR
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